The Triumphs of Caesar: 3. The Bearers of Trophies and Bullion

The Bearers of Trophies and Bullion, the third canvas, shows the most spectacular element of a Roman triumph — the treasure captured from the defeated enemy. Gold, silver, and precious objects are piled high on stretchers carried by soldiers in a display of imperial wealth Andrea Mantegna combined a scholar's knowledge of Roman antiquity with extraordinary graphic precision, making Mantua a major center of Renaissance art under his long patronage.

Mantegna's rendering of metallic surfaces reaches its peak in this canvas — gold vessels, silver coins, and jeweled crowns catch the light with different reflective properties, each metal painted with specific knowledge of how its surface interacts with illumination.