Artwork

Foot Combat with Flails

Foot Combat with Flails, by German 16th Century, ink, 1514
Foot Combat with Flails, by German 16th Century, ink, 1514

Foot Combat with Flails is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist German 16th Century. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of the artist: German 16th Century.

This painting shows two men fighting with flails.
They are dressed in old-fashioned clothes and look like they're in a fierce battle.
The details in this painting are interesting because it shows a moment of intense action.

The fight scene is drawn with pen and ink, and watercolor is used to add color.
This technique makes the scene look more realistic.

You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of the artist: German 16th Century.

Overview

Foot Combat with Flails is a 16th-century German drawing executed in pen and black ink with watercolor accents over black chalk on laid paper, measuring approximately 34 × 26.2 cm or 33.1 × 26.2 cm in different recorded dimensions.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a intense, dynamic scene of two men engaged in a fierce battle wielding flails, attired in antiquated clothing, capturing a moment of peak action and conflict.

Technique & Style

The artist combined pen and black ink for detailed line work with watercolor to introduce color, enhancing the realism of the depicted struggle. This approach is characteristic of German 16th-century drawing techniques.

History & Provenance

The work is housed in the Rosenwald Collection at the National Gallery of Art, though the artist's name is not specified in available information.

Artist & collection

Portrait of German 16th Century

Artist

German 16th Century

A German artist from the late 1500s drew lively scenes of knights clashing in parades and mock battles.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.