# Italian Joust of Peace

**Unknown artist**  
c.1512-1515  
pen and brown ink with watercolor over leadpoint on laid paper  
sheet: 33 × 26.3 cm (13 × 10 3/8 in.)

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1943.3.4502. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.216058.html).

## About this work

An unrecorded German artist painted this in about 1512-1515. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

This is a drawing of two armored figures on horseback engaged in a joust. Both knights are clad in ornate armor and mounted on horses as they participate in the match. The scene captures the moment of impact, with splintered lances flying in the air. One knight in silver armor with blue accents is being unseated from his horse, while the other knight in red and silver armor remains mounted. Both horses are draped in colors matching their riders' armors. The focus is on the dynamic action and energy of the joust, with fine details showing the armor's shine and the movement of the horses. The drawing is bordered, and there is some script at the top and bottom.

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **Watercolour.** Pigment in gum arabic, thinned with water and laid in transparent washes. Nothing white is painted: the light is the paper showing through.
- **Pen and ink.** Drawn with a quill or reed pen, often with wash added by brush to model light and shadow.
- **Laid paper.** Handmade on a mould of close-set wires, which leave fine parallel lines you can see when the sheet is held to the light.

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- Culture: German
- Real size: about 13 × 10 in (33 × 26 cm). The 11 × 14 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 16th century
- Movement: [Renaissance](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/renaissance)
- Subjects: figure, Battle, Horse, Costume, Weapons
- Colour: white
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1700.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1700/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/italian-joust-of-peace-nga-216058).