1631
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Death on Horseback Chasing a Flying Knight is a 1631 by Sebastiaen Vrancx, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This sketch shows two riders locked in a chaotic chase. The man on the left is bare-chested, riding a rearing horse and holding a spear. His helmet has big feathers, and he looks fierce. On the right, a skeletal figure on a horse fires a crossbow at him. Below, a group of small, scattered soldiers runs away in panic. The text at the top is Dutch and roughly means *"No man is so quick, nor so brave, that Death and Fate can’t catch him."* The scene feels wild and dramatic, like a nightmare. Next, check out Baroque to see why this style often looks so intense and full of movement.
Sebastiaen Vrancx (pronounced ; before 22 January 1573 – 19 May 1647) was a Flemish Baroque painter, draughtsman and designer of prints who is mainly known for his battle scenes, a genre that he pioneered in Netherlandish painting.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
