Master Art

As one scholar has noted, ‘[A] colourful blend of Christian and pagan themes, sacred and profane motifs, witty allegories and realistic genre scenes, is characteristic of Baumgartner’s entire drawn oeuvre… Baumgartner’s works impress with their wealth of ideas and innovations.’

The present sheet is likely to have been a design for a print, and may depict the foundation of the city of Alexandretta ad Issum (now Iskandarun in Turkey) by Alexander the Great in 333 BC, after his victory at the Battle of Issus. It is difficult to be certain, however, since Alexander usually celebrated his military victories with the founding of cities - invariably named after himself - of which the most famous is Alexandria in Egypt, founded in 331 BC. Indeed, as many as seventy cities are thought to have been established by Alexander the Great during his campaigns.



Pen and black ink and grey wash, heightened with white, on blue paper, with framing lines in black ink.