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The image shows a drawing featuring multiple sketches, with the most prominent being a figure on horseback. The figure is shown from a three-quarter rear view, capturing most of the body of the horse and the rider. The rider's position is leaning slightly forward, holding a shield on their back, and pointing with their right arm extended outward. The facial features are obscured by a helmet, and the hair is not visible. The rider's clothing is indicative of armor, providing a sense of historical context, with details such as the helmet and shield being prominent. The horse is detailed, with its head in profile and showcasing the craftsmanship in the depiction of its mane. Around the rider, the background features additional sketches, including another rider in the upper right corner and a lightly sketched, unclothed figure in red chalk in the lower right area of the image. The background is a plain, textured surface, typical of aged paper, with no additional scenery or landscape details. The lack of color beyond the monochrome and red chalk emphasizes the drawing's nature as a study or draft.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
A Soldier on Horseback and Other Studies
Antonio Tempesta
- Medium
- pen and brown ink and red chalk on laid paper, laid down on an old album sheet
- Dimensions
- Overall: 23.5 x 31.6 cm (9 1/4 x 12 7/16 in.) mount: 29.1 x 37.6 cm (11 7/16 x 14 13/16 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 2004.140.30
- Credit line
- Gift of Benjamin and Lillian Hertzberg
- Time span
- 1551 to 1600
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- Florentine
- Horse
- Sword
- Man
- Shield
- Anatomy
Provenance
German noble collection. (Gallery Kekko, Toronto, 1992). Benjamin and Lillian Hertzberg, New York; gift to NGA, 2004.
NGA object ID 130868. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.