Albrecht Altdorfer

Dominant Landscape

In his work The Battle of Issus (or Alexander), Altdorfer's depiction of the famous battlefield is unequivocally dominated by the landscape rather than the human element. But, the historical content and warrior action are not central to the painting's composition. In fact, figures of soldiers are represented in miniscule scale and appear as extensions of the landscape rather than foci for the viewer. Considered to be one of the foremost painters of pure landscape, Altdorfer employed the Danube valley as inspiration for his lush forest scenes and gently rolling hills. This unusual painting was commissioned by William IV, Duke of Bavaria as one of a suite by various artists. Considered to be one of his most famous and best works, Altdorfer's chosen perspective takes a hypothetical view of the whole Mediterranean from modern Turkey to include the island of Cyprus and the mouths of the Nile and the Red Sea (behind the isthmus to the left). It is thought to be the earliest work of art to document the curvature of the Earth from a highly elevated vantage point.