Final answer:
A contemporary artist's painting of an ancient battle is a secondary source because it is an interpretation created after the fact and not an original document or object from the time period of the battle.
Step-by-step explanation:
A contemporary artist's painting of an ancient battle would be considered a secondary source. This type of source is created after the fact and is based on the interpretation of primary sources or other secondary sources. In the field of history, a primary source represents an original document or object from the period being studied, such as government documents, letters, or artifacts like a statue of a pharaoh from Ancient Egypt. On the other hand, a painting made by an artist who did not witness the battle would not count as a primary source because it wasn't produced during the time of the event it depicts. Instead, it would offer a modern interpretation of the past, influenced by various factors such as the artist's knowledge, biases, and artistic style.