Christian II of Denmark

Christian II of Denmark

Augustin Hirschvogel

1546

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white drawing shows a knight in heavy armor, leaning on a spear. His helmet has a plume, and his sword hangs at his side. The armor covers his whole body, with detailed plates and straps. He stands on a small platform, and the ground around him looks rocky. The artist used lines to show the weight and shape of the metal. This style was common in the 1500s for studying how armor worked. Next, look up the technique: etching to see how artists like this made prints.

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