Description
The painting The battle of Alejandro in Issos of Albrecht Altdorfer is interesting for several reasons. In the first place, it is a large work, which measures approximately 158 cm x 120 cm, which makes it one of the largest paintings in the German rebirth.
If a work of art ever deserved the comparison with epic poetry, "the battle of Issus" is. The description of Albrecht Altdorfer of the moment takes place in 333 B.C., the year in which Alexander the Great defeated Darío III for the supremacy in Asia Minor. His ambition is enormous, his reach is broad, vivid in images, rich in symbols and obviously heroic, the illiterate of painting, as literary critic Friedrich Schlegel suggested.
In addition, it is a very detailed and complex painting, in which more than 100 characters and numerous historical and mythological details are represented. Altdorfer even included some fantastic elements, such as a unicorn and an elephant with war towers.
Another interesting aspect of this painting is your perspective. Altdorfer used a technique called "aerial perspective" to create the illusion of depth and distance in the battle scene. He also used a chopped perspective to give the feeling that the viewer is looking down on the battle from a high position.
Finally, this painting is significant because it represents a turning point in Altdorfer's career. He was commissioned by Duke Guillermo IV of Bavaria, which helped consolidate Altdorfer's reputation as one of the most important artists of his time.
Alejandro's battle in Issos occupies the position no. 66 on the list of famous paintings