Standard Bearer
second quarter 16th century
Medium
pen and black ink with gouache and watercolor
Dimensions
image: 20.2 x 14.5 cm (7 15/16 x 5 11/16 in.) sheet: 28.1 x 19.7 cm (11 1/16 x 7 3/4 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Steiner
Accession Number
1982.5.2
Art Historical Context
"Standard Bearer" is a dynamic drawing from the second quarter of the 16th century, created by an anonymous German artist during the Northern Renaissance. This intimate work on paper captures a figure proudly holding a banner aloft, evoking the pageantry of military processions or ceremonial events common in the era. Measuring just 20.2 x 14.5 cm, it exemplifies the meticulous preparatory studies favored by artists of the time, blending fine penwork with subtle color. Executed in pen and black ink heightened with gouache and watercolor, the piece showcases virtuoso techniques: the ink provide...
About the Artist
German 16th Century
The designation "German 16th Century" refers to a collective of anonymous artists active during the height of the German Renaissance, a period marked by profound artistic innovation amid the Protestant Reformation and humanist revival. Little is known about the individual lives or training of these makers, as their identities remain undocumented, with works often attributed based on regional style...