A Condottiere 1871 - 1872

Frederic Leighton painted 'A Condottiere' using oil on canvas, an interesting choice, because his subject is clad head-to-toe in metal. The artist has used the smoothness of oil paint to create the highly reflective armor of the Condottiere. This polished effect is in marked contrast to the chainmail around the shoulders which would have been painstakingly made from thousands of interlocking metal rings. Look closely, and you can see how Leighton captures the weight of this armor, which would have been incredibly heavy for the wearer. The Condottiere were mercenary leaders. They gained power during the Italian Renaissance, commanding military forces for various city-states. Their rise reflects a shift in warfare and politics, where skilled soldiers could amass wealth and influence. Thinking about the effort and skill required to create both the real armor and this representation of it, helps us to understand the values placed on craftsmanship, and the human figure, during the Victorian era.