The Two Armies at the Battle of Ravenna c. 1512 - 1513

This detailed print of the Battle of Ravenna was made in Italy, around 1515, by an artist known only as Master NA.DAT with the Mousetrap. It depicts a key moment in the Italian Wars, a series of conflicts which drew in many of the major European powers. The image creates meaning through its visual codes: the serried ranks of soldiers, the bristling spears and standards, the imposing walls of Ravenna itself in the background. These details convey the scale and significance of the battle. Italian society at this time was characterized by intense competition between city-states and powerful families. The Church was a major political player. This print is not a neutral record, but a product of this competitive, unstable environment. Historians consult a wide range of sources to understand such images: military histories, diplomatic records, even personal letters. Art provides a unique window into the past, but its meaning is always contingent on its social and institutional context.