Artwork
The Second Tournament with the Tapestry of Sampson and the Lion
The Second Tournament with the Tapestry of Sampson and the Lion is a print by the Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder. It dates from 1509 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1925.982
- Credit line
- Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland
About this work
Overview
Created in 1509, this black‑and‑white print by Lucas Cranach the Elder captures a bustling tournament scene. Knights on horseback joust beneath a decorative frieze that portrays the biblical episode of Samson confronting a lion. The composition is densely populated, with numerous figures and animals rendered in fine line work against a light background.
Subject & Meaning
The central action shows armored riders engaged in a joust, while the upper band functions as a narrative tapestry, illustrating Samson’s legendary battle with a lion. By juxtaposing a contemporary courtly sport with an Old Testament hero, the work links martial virtue to biblical strength, reflecting the period’s interest in moral exempla.
Technique & Style
Executed entirely in ink, the print relies on intricate hatching and contour lines to convey texture, movement, and depth. Cranach’s characteristic crisp outlines and compact arrangement of figures create a sense of visual density, reminiscent of the crowded compositions found in other early‑16th‑century German prints.
History & Provenance
Cranach, who served as court painter to the Electors of Saxony, produced this piece during the early phase of his prolific career. The print was likely intended for a courtly audience, serving both as a decorative object and as a visual record of aristocratic pastimes.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
