Rytter vendt mod højre 1594

Martin Pleginck made this small drawing of a rider facing right, using pen and ink, probably in the late 16th century. At this time, the status of the equestrian was changing, with the mounted knight becoming less important in war, and more important as a figure of aristocratic power. The visual codes of horsemanship had a clear social meaning. Images of this kind circulated widely across Europe at this time, often produced by printmakers and draughtsmen working for wealthy patrons. We might ask what it meant to produce an image of a horseman in Denmark at this time. What was the nature of Danish aristocratic culture? And what was the status of art and artists within it? To answer these questions, we need to consider a wide range of historical sources, including inventories, account books, and other archival material, so that we can better understand the social and institutional context of the artwork.