Mock Joust of War with Fixed Shields c. 1512 - 1515

This anonymous drawing depicts a jousting match with fixed shields on paper. In the absence of secure dating, we might ask what this image tells us about the culture and institutions of its time. Jousting, as depicted here, wasn't just sport; it was a theatrical display of martial skill and courtly elegance. The presence of spectators, signified by the architecture, reminds us that these events were carefully staged for a social elite. The fixed shields suggest this is a 'mock' joust. These shields reduce the risk of injury and enhance the spectacle, focusing less on combat and more on the artistry of horsemanship and costume. The image's playful nature implies a commentary on the shifting values of the time. As warfare evolved, the relevance of individual combat diminished. Mock jousts, therefore, became a way to preserve traditions within a changing social order, maintaining a sense of continuity and honour even as the world moved toward new forms of power and social display. Careful archival research, including the study of contemporary chronicles and manuals of courtly conduct, might reveal more about the social context and the meanings this image held for its original audience.