Paul Mercuri, Medieval Italian Equestrian Figures & Tournament Judges Bonnard, 1860, Paper, Framed, Set of 3

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The maps are offered unframed, enabling custom framing to personal or interior preferences. This refined set of three original 19th-century … Read more The maps are offered unframed, enabling custom framing to personal or interior preferences. This refined set of three original 19th-century hand-colored prints presents a cohesive and scholarly view of medieval Italian civic and chivalric culture, drawn from the influential costume publications of Camille Bonnard and his circle, published circa 1860. Together, the plates illustrate authority, ceremony, and representation in the 13th to 15th centuries, with a strong emphasis on equestrian imagery and judicial power.

The left plate, titled “Entrée des Juges Diseurs, XVe Siècle,” depicts two tournament judges entering a jousting field, dressed in richly colored ceremonial robes and mounted on caparisoned horses. The scene evokes the formalized rituals surrounding medieval tournaments, where judges played a crucial role in enforcing rules and upholding honor. The composition reflects Bonnard’s interest in accurately reconstructing historic costume, gesture, and hierarchy. The central plate portrays Oldrado da Tresseno on horseback, shown in period attire associated with Milanese civic authority. Oldrado was Podestà (mayor) of Milan in the 13th century and a key figure in the city’s medieval governance. This image focuses on costume, posture, and symbolic authority, presenting the rider in a calm, dignified pose that emphasizes civic power rather than martial aggression. The right plate shows a hand-colored depiction of the famous equestrian statue of Oldrado da Tresseno, originally sculpted in the 13th century and one of the earliest monumental equestrian representations in Italy. The illustration was drawn by Paul Mercuri and lithographed under the supervision of Camille Bonnard. The statue is a significant precursor to later Renaissance equestrian monuments and embodies the fusion of Roman imperial tradition with medieval civic identity. The reference to Bernabò Visconti underscores the broader Lombard tradition of equestrian portraiture and dynastic authority. Unified by subject, period, and artistic origin, this set offers a rare opportunity to acquire a visually balanced and intellectually coherent group of medieval-themed prints, ideal for collectors of historical costume, Italian history, or equestrian art. The maps are offered unframed, enabling custom framing to personal or interior preferences.

Condition: Overall very good antique condition. Light age toning to the paper, with scattered foxing and minor surface marks consistent with age. Colors remain fresh and well-preserved. Margins ample; plate impressions visible. No major tears or restorations observed. Technique: Hand-colored lithographs Maker: Camille Bonnard (after Paul Mercuri), France, circa 1860 See less