The Battle of Zama

This painting after Cornelis Cort depicts the Battle of Zama (202 BC), where the Roman general Scipio Africanus defeated Hannibal to end the Second Punic War. Cort was a Dutch engraver who worked in Italy, and his prints after compositions by major Italian artists were widely copied in paintings. The Battle of Zama, a popular subject in Renaissance art, symbolized the triumph of discipline and civilization over barbarism.

The oil on panel translates the dynamic energy of Cort's engraved composition into paint, with dense figure groups and charging elephants creating a sense of chaotic battle. The translation from print to painting maintains the dramatic composition while adding the warmth and depth of oil color.