The Battle between the Gods and the Giants
Joachim Antonisz. Wtewael (Dutch, c. 1566–1638)
c. 1608
View the original$19
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Materials & printing
Archival matte paper, 189 g/m² (10.3 mil), sourced from Japan, printed with multicolor water-based inkjet so every brushstroke stays crisp. Framed prints arrive ready to hang in a .75″ ayous-wood frame with an acrylite front. Sized to standard frames by cropping, never stretching — at most about 3% comes off one edge, which isn’t noticeable on most pieces, and we only offer a size when it stays that small.
Shipping & returns
Made to order and delivered in 5–8 business days (2–4 to print, 3–4 in transit). US shipping only for now. Because each print is made for your order, all sales are final — but if it arrives damaged or defective, send us a photo within 14 days and we’ll replace it free. Full policy.
Why is it this affordable?
A thin, flat margin on every piece — just enough to keep the store running. Most of what you pay is the print itself. We only sell sizes that reproduce at full quality, and we don’t mark up the large sizes the way most shops do.
About this work
The subject of the victory of the gods of Olympus over the ancient race of giants provided Joachim Wtewael with the opportunity to depict exaggerated athletic poses and striking contrasts of space and light. From the clouds, the Olympian gods wield their attributes as weapons: Jupiter hurls thunderbolts; Neptune brandishes his triton; and Mercury uses his caduceus as a spear. The helmeted figure on the right is Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and war. The painting's gemlike effect results from the use of a copper support and from its small scale. The artist's self-conscious display of his skills was a hallmark of the international style known as Mannerism, which was fashionable in Holland around 1600.
- Medium
- Oil on copper
- Original size
- 15.6 × 20.3 cm (6 1/8 × 8 in.)
Museum record · 1 owner · 2 exhibitions
Provenance
- Possibly Adriaan Bout, sold, The Hague, August 11, 1733, “De Reusen tegen de Goden Strydende, heel curieus en uytvoerig Geschildert, door Uytewael, h. 6 d. br. 8 d. (the giants fighting against thegods, very rare and minutely painted by Wtewael” for 275 fl.. Possibly Count van Wassenaar Obdam, sold, De Hondt, The Hague, August 19, 1750, “De Reusen Stryd, tegen de Gooden, door Jochem Uittewaal. h. 6 d., br. 8 d. “ for 300 fl.. Probably Willem Lormier, The Hague; sold A. Franken, The Hague, July 4, 1763, “De Stryd der Reusen, tegen de Goden. K. Breet 7 3/4, Hoog, 6 (the battle of giants and gods, on copper” for 115 fl. Vosmaar”. Probably Jan Tak, Leiden, sold, Zoeterwoude, September 5, 1781 as a pair to Delfos, “"Een weergae werbeeldende Jupiter zittende op de Wolken met den Blixem in zijn hand, verzeld van Goden, terwijl de Reuzen op de voorgrond staande den Hemel bestormen, waarvan men 'er een meenigte in 't verschiet ziet nedertuimelen. Deeze twee stukjes zijn konstig geordonneert, fraai getekend, en zoo uitvoerig en kragtig of het Geëmailleert was, en met olijverf op koper geschildert, ieder is hoog 6, breed 7 duim.". Possibly Van Leyden; sold, Paris, September 10, 1804. Private collection, Russia, c. 1900. Private collection, England; Matthiesen Fine Ltd, by 1985; sold to the Art Institute, 1986.
Exhibitions
- London, Matthiesen Fine Art, Around 1610: The Onset of the Baroque, 1985.
- Utrecht, Centraal Museum, Pleasure and Piety: The Art of Joachim Wtewael, February 21 - May 25, 2015; Washington, National Gallery of Art, June 28-October 4, 2015; Houston, Museum of Fine Arts, November 1, 2015-January 31, 2016.
