19th-Century Hand-Coloured Lithograph of a Knightly Joust in Bold Red and Green
€ 530
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Sheet size
23 × 40 cm (9.1 × 15.7 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14009-57
Condition
The lithograph’s hand-applied colouring has retained remarkable brilliance after nearly two centuries, and the paper remains in fine condition with one fold middle fold as issued and light toning that confirm its genuine age.
About this sheet
19th-Century Hand-Coloured Lithograph of a Knightly Joust in Bold Red and Green
This rare and original hand-coloured lithograph, produced in 1842, transports the viewer back to the grandeur of medieval tournaments, where color, courage, and courtly traditions reigned supreme. It is drawn from the prestigious publication *Der Rittersaal: Eine Geschichte des Ritterthums*, published by Carl Hoffmann in Stuttgart. The artwork and its historical context emerged through the collaboration of artist Friedrich Martin von Reibisch and historian Dr. Franz Kottenkamp, both dedicated to faithfully capturing the ceremonies, attire, and martial customs of the European chivalric age.
In this scene, two knights clash, each mounted on a finely bred and lavishly adorned warhorse. The knight at left rides a steed clad in vibrant red accoutrements, accented with gilded trim and a floral motif, while the opponent, on the right, charges forth on a horse draped in a bold green and crimson-striped caparison. Both knights wear gleaming plate armor, their lances poised for a decisive strike. A plume of pink ostrich feathers on one knight’s helmet and curved ornaments atop the other’s helm add a sense of artistry and heraldic symbolism to the violent drama unfolding.
The lithograph’s hand-applied colouring has retained remarkable brilliance after nearly two centuries, and the paper remains in fine condition with only minor folds and light toning that confirm its genuine age. Such subtle imperfections do nothing to diminish the image’s overall clarity and historical charm.
A distinctive acquisition for collectors of medieval history, heraldry, and historical equestrian art, this print offers a captivating window into a world where honor, spectacle, and skill shaped every clash of lance and armor.
