Foot Combat with Flails

c.1512-1515

German 16th Century

Associated Names
German 16th Century

Artist

This is a drawing of two armored figures engaging in combat with polearms. The figures, clad in medieval-style armor, are depicted in an action pose as they skirmish with long staffs or polearms. The figure on the left is poised with one foot forward and holds the weapon across the body while the figure on the right appears to thrust their weapon toward the opponent. Both figures are dressed in period attire with helmets, ornate midsection armor, and skirts that resemble those worn by gladiators. The background is plain, and the scene is framed by a simple line, focusing the attention solely on the dynamic interaction between the two figures.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and black ink with watercolor and corrected with white gouache on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 33.4 × 26.2 cm (13 1/8 × 10 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.4532

  • Series Title

    Freydal, The Book of Jousts and Tournament of Emperor Maximilian I: Combats on Foot (Volume III)

Associated Artworks

See all 29 artworks
This is a drawing of two armored figures engaged in combat. The drawing depicts two individuals clad in stylized, armored suits. They stand in profile with feet staggered, engaged in combat with maces. The maces are depicted as embellished club-like weapons. The figures wear helmets detailed with combs and plumage, and their armor is composed of articulated sections. One figure holds a large shield with a simple floral design. The lines and washes display fine control and articulation. Below the scene, words or writing can be observed.

Foot Combat with Maces and Tartsche Shields

German 16th Century

1515

Freydal, The Book of Jousts and Tournament of Emperor Maximilian I: Combats on Foot (Volume III)

German 16th Century

1515

This is a drawing of two armored figures engaged in combat. The figures are in elaborate medieval armor, with one attacking and the other defending. The armor is detailed with textures and the color palette is limited to blues, greys, and hints of gold. The scene is dynamic and focused on the confrontation between the two figures.

Foot Combat with Maces and Tartsche Shields

German 16th Century

1515

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Frédéric de Pourtalès (1779-1861), Paris; E.P. Goldschmidt (1887-1954), London, c.1914-1918. (Charles Sessler Rare Books, Philadelphia). Purchased 1930 by Lessing J. Rosenwald (L. Supp. 1760b); Gift to NGA, 1943.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1926

  • Dodgson, Campbell. "An Unknown MS. of Freydal."The Burlington Magazine. 48 (1926): 235-237+240-242.

1928

  • Dodgson, Campbell. "More Freydal Drawings." The Burlington Magazine. 53 (October 1928): 170-73.

2019

  • Krause, Stefan. "Freydal, das Turnierbuch Kaiser Maximilians I. - Werkbeschreibungen." Jahrbuch des Kunsthistorischen Museums Wien 21 (2019): 272, repro. 273.

Inscriptions

upper right by unknown hand in brown ink: 56; lower left on mount in black ink: 5;lower right on mount in black ink: [Leitnu?]/238; lower right on mount in black in: A

Wikidata ID

Q64571937

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