Nuremberg tournaments 1446-1561

This German Turnierbuch manuscript is composed of 112 sheet includes depictions of contestants equipped for various tournaments; a renaissance parade preceding a late form of tournament called a carrousel; This album represent specifically the participants in tournaments known as Gesellenstrechen, or bachelors’ jousts, held in Nuremberg (Germany) between 1446 and 1561; We find also 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 renaissance artist or a Briefmaler, a particular letter painter, who also would have written and embellished official documents and painted rich coats-of-arms.

In many instances, the names of the tournament participants are written above them. They are armed for the Gestech (German tournament), the joust fought with blunt lances. This rare Turnierbuch such as 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.

This rare manuscript was bought in 1921 by a French collector, and today is part of the MET collection (The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York).

In appendix we have insert 16 wonderful color plates from the German reprint book of 1918: Hans Burgkmair des Jungeren - Turnierbuch vom 1529.