Artwork

Italian Joust of Peace

Italian Joust of Peace, by German 16th Century, ink, 1514
Italian Joust of Peace, by German 16th Century, ink, 1514

Italian Joust of Peace 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

A 16th-century German artist created 'Italian Joust of Peace', a drawing depicting a dramatic moment in a jousting match between two armored knights on horseback, captured in meticulous detail with pen, ink, watercolor, and chalk on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing freezes the instant of impact as one knight's lance splinters against the other's armor, highlighting the tension between the realism of the depicted armor and the stylized, potentially fictionalized nature of the scene.

Technique & Style

The artist employed a layered technique: fine pen lines and black chalk underpinnings, overlaid with translucent watercolor glazes, blending German precision in draftsmanship with Italianate flair in dramatic composition.

History & Provenance

The work is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, though the specific artist remains unidentified in the provided context.

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.