Horse Dressed Up for a Tournament or Ceremonial Entry 1604 - 1656

Baccio del Bianco rendered this drawing of a horse dressed for a tournament with pen and brown ink, and brown wash on paper, most likely in Florence, Italy, sometime in the first half of the 17th century. In del Bianco’s time, the Medici’s lavish court spectacles served as demonstrations of power, and a highly effective means of conveying political messages. When we look closely, the horse is not simply an animal, but a symbol of status, an extension of the rider's persona, and a canvas onto which power is projected. Consider the horse’s elaborate trappings, the tassels, and the extravagant plumes. These aren’t practical additions, but rather, they signify wealth, authority, and taste. The tournaments and ceremonial entries would have been highly ritualized events, reinforcing the social hierarchy. Del Bianco’s drawing invites us to reflect on how such displays reinforced existing power structures and shaped the cultural identity of the era. As you stand here, perhaps you can imagine the sounds, colors, and emotions swirling around such a spectacle, and ponder its cultural implications.