Created by Albrecht Dürer in 1498, the artwork “Knight On Horseback” is an exemplar of the Northern Renaissance. This genre painting is part of the collection at the Albertina in Vienna, Austria. The piece showcases Dürer’s mastery of details and his ability to convey the richness and texture of a scene.
The artwork features a knight in full armor seated on a robust steed. The knight carries a long lance with a flag at its end. His armor is meticulously detailed, displaying the artisanship of the period with etched patterns and a plumed helmet. The horse, also well-appointed, carries the weight of the armor and the knight gracefully, its muscles and stance detailed with an eye toward realism. Both man and beast are portrayed in profile, which allows the viewer to appreciate the harmony and preparedness of this medieval pair for battle or tournament. The drawing is not colored fully, keeping much of the paper’s original tone, but highlights are added in areas to give the piece depth and life. Dürer’s initials, “AD,” can be spotted on the artwork along with the date, anchoring it in time and associating it with his body of work.
