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

Foot Combat with Halberds

German 16th Century

1514

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Dominant colour

Overview

Foot Combat with Halberds is a 1514 ink by German 16th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?
German 16th Century
When & what style?
1514 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?
National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows two armored knights in a tight fight. Their halberds cross close, helmets gleaming with tall plumes. The paper is small—just a bit bigger than a sheet of notebook paper. The artist used ink first, then layered watercolor to build depth. White gouache fixes mistakes on the helmet’s curve. You can still see where a line was scraped away near the left knight’s arm. Look for the same bold lines next time you visit the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

About the artist

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.

See the richer artist page

More by German 16th Century

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