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Mock Joust of War with Fixed Shields

German 16th Century

1514

watercolor

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance History Painting

Dominant colour

Mock Joust of War with Fixed Shields is a 1514 watercolor 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 sketch shows a chaotic jousting scene with two knights on horseback clashing. One knight in striped blue armor is on the ground, while the other in red and green rides over him. Around them, a crowd of small, cartoonish figures watches from a balcony, some laughing or pointing. The horses look exaggerated, with one rearing up dramatically. The writing at the top is German and seems to describe the scene in a playful way. The artist used simple lines and bright colors to make the action look silly and over-the-top. Next, check out the technique: watercolor, glazing to see how this was made.