Hannibal crossing the Alps on elephants
Nicolas Poussin·1625
Historical Context
Hannibal Crossing the Alps from around 1625 depicts one of the most dramatic episodes in ancient military history. Poussin's treatment of the Carthaginian general's daring mountain crossing combines historical narrative with landscape drama. Working in Rome from 1624 onwards, Poussin served a cultivated international clientele of French and Italian patrons who prized his learned, disciplined approach to classical antiquity and religious narrative. His correspondence reveals a painter who rega...
Technical Analysis
The composition places the elephant-borne army against dramatic mountain terrain. Poussin's handling of the military spectacle demonstrates his developing narrative skills.
