Artwork

Foot Combat with Pikes

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

Foot Combat with Pikes 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

Overview

Foot Combat with Pikes is a 16th-century drawing created by a German artist around 1515. It measures 33.8 × 26.3 cm and is executed in pen and black ink with watercolor on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a battle scene between soldiers armed with long wooden pikes and metal armor. One fighter is shown standing firm, while the other stumbles, highlighting the intensity of the combat.

Technique & Style

The artist employed brown ink for the outlines and added thin watercolor washes to create shading and details on the armor, utilizing chiaroscuro to give the figures depth and volume.

Context

Battle scenes were uncommon in early 16th-century German art, which typically focused on religious themes, making this type of artwork stand out for its subject matter.

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.