Artwork
Italian Joust of Peace
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.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:upper right above image by unknown hand in brown ink, on separate paper pasted down: Fraydall gestochen wellisch in ainer grunen zendlen deckh, auff dem helm ain gruenen kranntz; upper right by unknown hand in brown ink: 119; center by unknown hand in graphite: 36; bottom center by unknown hand in brown ink on separate paper laid down: Herr Jann von Grittis / Welsch / 119; lower left on mount in black ink: 119; lower right on mount in black ink: A 162
About this work
Overview
Italian Joust of Peace is a 16th‑century drawing executed in pen and brown ink with watercolor glazes applied over an initial black‑chalk sketch on laid paper.
Italian Joust of Peace is a 16th‑century drawing executed in pen and brown ink with watercolor glazes applied over an initial black‑chalk sketch on laid paper. The work portrays a dramatic jousting encounter between two heavily armored riders on horseback, their elaborate trappings rendered with meticulous detail. The drawing is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the moment when the lances of the two knights collide, one breaking apart against the polished steel of the opponent’s armor. The matching decorative elements on the horses and riders suggest a focus on chivalric pageantry and the ideal of martial harmony, implied by the title’s reference to peace within the tournament setting.
Technique & Style
The artist began with a faint black‑chalk underdrawing, then built up the scene using brown ink for line work and layered watercolor washes to achieve deep, saturated tones. The rendering of the splintered lance demonstrates a keen observation of light on broken wood, while the intricate armor and horse trappings are delineated with fine, controlled strokes.
History & Provenance
Created by an anonymous German artist active in the 1500s, the drawing entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the 20th century. Its provenance prior to the museum’s purchase is not fully documented, but the work has been recognized as a representative example of Northern European tournament imagery from the Renaissance period.
Artist & collection
Artist
A German artist of the late 1500s drew knights clashing in parades and mock battles, filling sheets with detailed ink colored lightly in watercolor: soldiers mid-joust, shields flying, foot soldiers sparring with spears.
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