Insights
from Historical Artwork The detail
is fuzzy in this painting, yet on the far right a fighter
can be seen holding down his opponent as he prepares to
slash with a knife-like blade. In the upper left a
fighter wields a great sword. Notice again the gripping
method, with both hands close and nearer the cross guard
as opposed to the second holding the pommel (which is
also seen often). Next to him a fighter with a small
curved shield raises his sword on high against a pole-arm
wielding adversary. To their right, a fighter in full
plate faces off with sword & shield against a spear
& shield armed opponent (note the feather guides on
the end of the shaft). On the lower left-hand side a
beheaded fighter begins to fall. Other severed heads and
headless bodies are also visible. - From Battle of
Nicopol. Late 1300s. French illuminated
manuscripts, Bibliotheqe Nationale de France.

BACK / NEXT / START
|