Allegorical Theme: Combat of Animals

Master of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a mythical scene with fantastical creatures. The setting is a rugged natural environment with a nude figure on a rock holding a large reflective disk or shield. The creatures include a lion with dragon-like features and a horse with a serpentine tail, depicted in a dynamic manner interacting with each other. The landscape includes expansive plains and a distant castle, hinting at a classical influence.