Condottiere - Horseman from Santa Anastasia , Verona - International Gothic

 Salvete Omnes,

this evening we will canter quickly to Verona, where inside the Catholic church of Santa Anastasia there is a funerary monument to Cortesia Serego (1335-386AD), a condottiere captain in the Veronese army.

Cortesia II Sergo, his son, ordered the monument to be sculpted  by Pietro di Nicolo Lamberti and painted by Michele Giambono.

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San Crisogonom, an armored horseman astride a destrier,  painting by Michele Giambono

enjoy 

Valete

Luigi I d'Este - tassels, bay horse and flowing scarf

 Salvete Omnes,

Luigi I d'Este one again 

here dear Luigi I carries a very long, narrowing towards the tip sword

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a very detailed portrait - a bay stallion, and plenty of tassels 

typically long-shanked burb-bit

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very nice riding boots with a spur of which we cannot see the tip 

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sort of Sassanian Persian or old Medieval chivalry

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splendid saddle with pistol holster and long-barreled pistol

enjoy

Valete

Luigi I d'Este, Marquis of Montecchio & Scandiano

 Salvete Omnes,

Luigi I d'Este, Marquis of Montecchio and Scandiano  - 1594-1664.
Italian imperial soldier and commander, participant of the 30 Years War and the war of Manuan Succession. 
His monumental portrait, by Nicolas Regnier, astride a powerful paint horse, probably a Neapolitan or Spanish war horse (could be Polish too, his head being small and eyes very large).

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Marquis was portrayed wearing the final version of plate armor, a cuirassier version; most likely this armor was made shot-proof, withstanding pistol shot from close quarters if in the melee or hand to hand combat, and perhaps the cuirass itself was proofed against long distance musket shot. Note his long yellow riding boots.
His horse  was probably trained according to the highest Italian horsemanship standard, perhaps the presence of long-shanked curb-bit with rather  relaxed rein - note the tassel on its end, so the reins are split.

ornate bridle

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ornate breastplate with a tassel

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ornate, wide stirrups ..

there is another portrait of don Luigi while mounted, and I will discuss it too later one. 

Valete

Simone Martini et tents etc

Salvete Omnes,
I would like to bring your attention to several works of the XIV century Sienese painter Simone Martini , disciple of the famous Giotto. In his brushwork we see medeival Italian horses, horse tack and event tents used by the medieval armies.

 
 first, the fresco of Guidoriccio da Fogliano, the Sienese condotiero (mercenary) commander, at the siege of Montemassi at the Palacio Publico in Sienna.
He is riding a tall grey dextrarius that is shod and  caparisoned.

We do not see much of the condottiere's armor but for his neck, arms and legs that are protected by the mail, and the legs are reinforced by some early plate armor. Riding in the military fashion, double reins in left hand, he holds the botton, the symbol of his authority as the commander (and conqueror of Montermassi).


 very interesting portrayal of the pavilon tents of the nobility and commanding officers and also tents for the troops (included grass or perhaps straw covered tents) and it is my guess that the green structures are stables for their horses.

Another work, a panel painting, that is interesting is the  Blessed Agostino Novello Altarpiece
 where in this tempera panel we see a fallen horse

 and the details of the saddle (painted leather skirts) and stirrup  with the stirrup leathers.
 

 

Valete