A battle 

Fabrizio Boschi made this drawing called ‘A Battle’ in Florence, Italy sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. It’s rendered in pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk. Battle scenes like this were popular among the Florentine aristocracy and were commissioned to celebrate military victories or commemorate important historical events. This drawing is not associated with any particular historical event. Battle scenes reminded the public of the importance of military strength, and the social hierarchy with the powerful Medici at the top. To better understand the image, we could research primary source material such as letters and diaries from the time, as well as official records and chronicles, to gain insight into the political and social context. By examining these sources, we can begin to understand the complex relationship between art, power, and society in early modern Florence.