The Second Tournament with the Tapestry of Sampson and the Lion
1509
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1509
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This image is packed with tiny, busy scenes. At the bottom, knights in armor joust on horseback, their lances raised. Above them, a frieze shows a wild story with people, animals, and dramatic poses—like a lion attack. The whole thing is drawn in black lines on a light background, with no color. The top band looks like a separate story, maybe a Bible tale, squeezed into the frame. The artist packed in so much detail that it feels like a crowded marketplace of action. Next, look up Renaissance to see how artists like this one filled space with stories.
