From the beginning, nature has been one of man's many inspirations. It is used to convey emotions and bring meaning in many ways in art. During the Northern Renaissance, Albrecht Altdorfer was one of the most distinguished painters, known for his expressive and detailed landscapes. Altdorfer's Battle of Issus focused on nature to further amplify Alexander's victorious battle. Three hundred and sixty years later, Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh created a work that also shows how nature can bring emotion and meaning to his painting Starry Night. The Battle of Issus by Albrecht Altdorfer in one of the artist's most famous works depicting the exploits of historical heroes. [1] It was created in 1529 by order of the Munich palace of William IV. The Battle of Issus testifies to the victory of Alexander the Great over Darius of Persia which took place in 333 BCE. From an omniscient perspective, Altdorfer allows viewers to observe a complete view of the entire scene. The artist used small but detailed shapes to depict armies and the landscape. In the distance, he uses atmospheric perspective to show the depth of the painting by illuminating the tone of the mountain peaks in the distance. To enhance the historical tone of the painting, a sign written in Latin is placed on the battlefield. The sign records historical information about the number of men the Persians lost and were taken prisoner. [2]The sign cord hangs straight in the middle of the victorious scene. The viewer can make out two figures on chariots spaced apart by obvious chatter in the middle of the battle. The figure on the right represents Alexander charging his opponent and the figure on the left represents Darius fleeing the battle. This is an important state...... middle of paper ......recht Altdorfer." Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History. Boston, MA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2009. 632-33.[ 3] Lubbock, Tom. “Altdorfer, Albrecht: Alexander's Victory / Battle of Issus (1529).” 4] Murray, Ann H. "Jnl of. The American Academy of Religion." The Religious Background of Vincent Van Gogh and Its Relation to His Views on Nature and Art. Web. [5] Penelope Davies, Denny Walter, Frima Hofrichter, Joseph Jacobs, Ann Roberts, and David Simon, Janson's History of Art – The Western Tradition (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc, 7th edition, 2007) Chapter 26 , page. 916