A detailed seventeenth-century engraving by Gérard Audran, depicting the historic Battle of Gaugamela after the painting by Charles Le Brun.

This large-scale engraving by Gérard Audran depicts the decisive Battle of Gaugamela, often referred to as the Battle of Arbela. The composition is based on the painting by Charles Le Brun, which was commissioned by King Louis XIV as part of a series documenting the life of Alexander the Great. Audran, a master of the burin, translates Le Brun's complex painterly narrative into a precise monochrome medium.

The scene captures the chaotic momentum of ancient warfare. Alexander the Great is shown on horseback, leading his forces against the Persian army of Darius III. The composition is organised into a series of overlapping planes, creating a sense of depth that draws the viewer across the breadth of the conflict. Figures are rendered with anatomical precision, reflecting the academic standards of the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture during the seventeenth century.

Audran employs a variety of line weights to distinguish between the foreground figures, the distant cavalry, and the atmospheric clouds above. The inclusion of Latin and French inscriptions at the base provides historical context, framing the event as a moral victory of virtue over tyranny. The print demonstrates the technical capabilities of French printmaking during the reign of the Sun King, where the reproduction of royal commissions allowed for the wider dissemination of state-sanctioned iconography. The work remains a significant example of the collaborative relationship between painter and engraver in the seventeenth century, where the printmaker acted as the primary conduit for the visual language of the court.