Plate depicting Signore Bolognesi, from a series of twelve showing knights and their attendants dressed for a tournament (plate 9) 1565

This anonymous plate depicts Signore Bolognesi and his attendants dressed for a tournament. It's part of a series of twelve, and it offers us a glimpse into the performative aspects of nobility. Tournaments were displays of power and status. More than just games, they were political theater. They reinforced social hierarchies with knights showcasing not only their martial skills, but also their wealth and refinement. The elaborate costumes, the banners, the horse trappings—all these elements were carefully crafted to project an image of authority. What does it mean to see these figures stylized, almost like paper dolls? The focus here isn't on the individual, but on the role they play in the spectacle of power. Consider the weight of expectation on these figures; how their identities were intertwined with their social standing and how they used pageantry to assert their place in the world. How do you think they felt behind the armor and finery?