Flemish Painter Of The 17th Century, Battle Of Ponte Milvio

Flemish painter of the 17th century
Battle of Ponte Milvio
Oil on panel, cm 50 x 74
With Frame cm 69 x 93

The episode narrated in this table is that of the Battle of Ponte Milvio, fought on October 23, 312 A.D., which saw opposing the Roman Emperor Constantine, ruler of the western regions of the empire, and Massenzio, Emperor of Italy and Africa, near the Milvio Bridge in Rome. Following the victory of his troops, Constantine became the only ruler of the western part of the empire, a further step in his political path that led him to become the sole emperor and put an end to Tetrarchy. The battle was the event that marked the beginning of Constantine’s conversion to Christianity: the night before the battle, Constantine had a dream in which he was told to put a Christian symbol on the shields of his soldiers.

The ancient table is attributed to a 17th century Flemish artist, as can be seen from the use of bright and enamelled colours, the attention to detail, the skill with which lighting effects are treated. In the foreground two monomachies, which refer to ancient examples, in which two pairs of soldiers face each other on proud horses. One of these, now fallen, abandons his bowels to the weight of death while the contender uses every muscle fiber of his body to strike with the lance the fatal blow. Next to each other two knights are fighting with sword. The background in the distance, characterized by a cold and cerulean color opens to a horizon that promises the dawn of a new day, while on the battlefield figures of knights and soldiers, made with fast and wise strokes, fight for victory. Enveloped by the mist of dawn a great defensive bastion is wrapped by the infernal flames set by soldiers who have now crossed the bridge.
From the point of view of composition, the painter looks clearly at a famous model: the fresco by Raffello and Giulio Romano, also depicting the Battle of Ponte Milvio between Constantine and Massenzio, Built in 1512 for Leo X in the Vatican Room now called Constantine.  In fact the scene in the foreground of the knight with the spear that hits his opponent to death, which in the original Raffaellesco is portrayed behind the figure of Constantine, here you come reproposed and reinterpreted. 

The object is in good condition

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