ticketsMember | Make a donation

Album of Tournaments and Parades in Nuremberg

late 16th–mid-17th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 373
This 112-sheet manuscript includes depictions of contestants equipped for various tournaments; a parade preceding a late form of tournament called a carrousel; participants in tournaments known as Gesellenstrechen, or bachelors' jousts, held in Nuremberg between 1446 and 1561; and depictions of pageant sleighs, some of which were used in a parade held in the winter of 1640–41. The illustrations are probably the work of a Briefmaler, or letter painter, who also would have written and embellished official documents and painted coats-of-arms.

In many instances, the names of the tournament participants are written above them. They are armed for the Gestech, the joust fought with blunt lances. A helmet and a four-pronged lance head similar to those in the album are also on display in gallery 373 (acc. nos. 29.156.67a, 42.50.40). Albums such as this provide an invaluable record of the jousters' colorful costumes, fanciful crests, and humorous, often satirical emblems that decorated the jouster's shields and horse trappings.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Album of Tournaments and Parades in Nuremberg
  • Date: late 16th–mid-17th century
  • Geography: Nuremberg
  • Culture: German, Nuremberg
  • Medium: Pen and ink, watercolor, gold and silver washes; paper bound in gold-tooled leather
  • Dimensions: cover: 14 x 10 3/8 in. (35.56 x 26.35 cm); page: 13 5/8 x 9 7/8 in. (34.61 x 25.08 cm)
  • Classification: Books & Manuscripts
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1922
  • Object Number: 22.229
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

Audio

Cover Image for 4429. Album of Tournaments and Parades in Nuremberg

4429. Album of Tournaments and Parades in Nuremberg

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

    Listen to more about this artwork

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564), Kunz Lochner German, Steel, brass, leather, German, Nuremberg
Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564)
Kunz Lochner
dated 1549
Helm for the Joust of Peace (<i>Stechhelm</i>), Steel, copper alloy, German, probably Nuremberg
Helm for the Joust of Peace (Stechhelm)
German, probably Nuremberg
ca. 1500
Armor, Steel, leather, German, Nuremberg
Armor
German, Nuremberg
ca. 1520 and later
Field Armor, Steel, leather, German, Nuremberg
Field Armor
German, Nuremberg
ca. 1525; left arm defense, 19th century; rondels, 1923
Armor, Steel, leather, German, Nuremberg
Armor
German, Nuremberg
ca. 1520 and later

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 5

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.