Foot Combat with Longswords

c.1512-1515

German 16th Century

Associated Names
German 16th Century

Artist

This is a drawing of two figures in armor engaged in combat with swords. The image shows two armored figures facing each other, each holding a sword. The movements suggest they are mid-fight. Both figures are in unique armor, with one wearing a pleated tunic and the other a crisscross patterned garment. They wear helmets with decorative plumes. The drawing captures the moment as the swords meet in the center, creating tension. The composition is framed simply, with a minimally detailed background, allowing focus on the combat and detailed armor designs.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and black ink with watercolor on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 33.5 × 26.4 cm (13 3/16 × 10 3/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.4573

  • Series Title

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

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): 292, repro. 293.

Inscriptions

upper right by unknown hand in graphite: [undecipherable]; upper right by unknown hand in black ink: 36; lower left on mount in black ink: 46; lower right on mount in black ink: A 31

Wikidata ID

Q64571979

You may be interested in

Loading Results