Joust of Peace in Leg Armor

c.1512-1515

German 16th Century

Associated Names
German 16th Century
Artist
This is a painting of two armored knights jousting on horseback. The scene captures the moment of a medieval jousting tournament where two knights, fully clad in armor, are mounted on decorated horses, charging towards each other. One knight appears to have been struck and is falling off his horse, while the other knight remains upright. The horses are adorned in caparisons with green and gold colors, and the knights hold lances. The detailing and the historical theme suggest the artwork may be in the style of medieval manuscript illustrations. The painting depicts the action and pageantry typical of such events.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and brown ink with watercolor over black chalk and leadpoint on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 33.6 × 26.3 cm (13 1/4 × 10 3/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.4439

  • Series Title

    Freydal, The Book of Jousts and Tournaments of Emperor Maximilian I: Combats on Horseback (Volume I)

Associated Artworks

See all 76 artworks
This is a painting of a jousting scene with armored horses and riders. The painting shows two armored figures, each on horseback, engaging in a jousting tournament. One horse and its rider are depicted in colorful armor, including a decorative flourish of flowers. The other figure has been unhorsed and is on the ground, covered in a green cloth that extends over the horse. The composition captures the moment of action and skill, with the energy of the horses and the intricacies of their armor depicted through delicate brushwork and a muted color palette. The style resembles medieval manuscript illustrations.

German Joust of Peace

German 16th Century
1515

Freydal, The Book of Jousts and Tournaments of Emperor Maximilian I: Combats on Horseback (Volume I)

German 16th Century
1515
This is a drawing of a jousting scene. It features an armored rider on horseback with a long lance, engaged in a jousting match. The rider is leaning towards the ground, indicating motion of the lance as if striking a target. Another figure lies on the ground, seemingly dislodged from their horse. The horses are adorned in decorative caparisons with green and yellow patterns. The artwork portrays the movement and drama of a jousting scene, showcasing the elaborate armor and attire characteristic of medieval tournaments, offering insight into the pageantry and competitiveness of the era.

German Joust of Peace

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): 218, repro. 219.

Inscriptions

Upper right by unknown hand in brown ink: 33; upper center by unknown hand in black ink: 27; upper left by unknown hand in brown ink, on separate paper laid down: Fraydall in schinen gestochen in einem fruen samthin geliger, auff dem helm zway guldin orn; lower left on mount in black ink: 33; lower right on mount in black ink: A 249.