The artwork, titled “Tournament Battle,” was created by the artist Pisanello between circa 1440 and circa 1449. This piece belongs to the International Gothic art movement and falls within the genre of sketch and study.
The artwork presents a dynamic, animated scene of knights engaged in various combat activities on horseback. The meticulous sketches showcase warriors in armor, some brandishing lances and others engaged in intense movement, capturing the vigor and chaos of a medieval tournament battle. The horses are depicted in intricate detail, with their powerful, muscular forms contributing to the sense of action. Pisanello’s deft use of lines and shading emphasizes the texture of the armor and the energy of the scene, creating a vivid portrayal of martial prowess and chivalric spectacle characteristic of the era.
