Joust of Peace in Leg Armor c. 1512 - 1515

This image, "Joust of Peace in Leg Armor", was made by an anonymous artist, using pen and brown ink, with watercolor on paper. Look closely at the detailed rendering of the jousting armor; it indicates the artist was interested in the material culture and social rituals of elite society. These were highly crafted objects, and their production relied on the expertise of armorers and metalworkers. The pen and watercolor medium is quite different. It is more immediate and delicate than the heavy armor it represents. The making of armor was a labor-intensive process, involving the skills of blacksmiths and metalworkers who shaped and assembled the various components. It was a display of power and status for those who could afford it. This drawing invites us to consider the relationship between the artistic representation of armor and the social context of its production and use. The armorers' work was just as skilled and aesthetically significant as the artist's.