Horatius Cocles Leaping into the River Tiber

Albrecht Altdorfer

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a person in a dynamic and dramatic position. The individual is depicted in detailed armor with a helmet obscuring their facial features. They are gripping a large ring attached to a beam above and their other hand is raised with the palm facing outward. Waves flow around their feet indicating movement through water. The background reveals a landscape with a distant structure resembling a tent, hinting at a possible encampment or fortification. The scene is rendered in intricate shading resembling engravings.