Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Il fior di battaglia / Fiore dei Liberi
Italy, Venice, early 15th century
MS M.383 fol. 18v

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Pairs of combatants:
1) Scene, Sports and Games: Combat -- At upper left, one of two confronted pupils wears garter on right leg, holds dagger with right hand, and extends left hand to right wrist of other pupil. The other pupil holds, with both hands, sword across right thigh of first pupil.
2) Scene, Sports and Games: Combat -- At upper right, one of two pupils, raises dagger with right hand, and looks back over left shoulder toward the other pupil, wearing garter on right leg, approaching from back, grasping blade of sword with left hand, raising the sword with right hand. Blade of the sword is at left side of first pupil.
3) Scene, Sports and Games: Combat -- At lower left, one of two confronted pupils holds raised sword with right hand. The other pupil, wearing garter on right leg, holding dagger with right hand, blocks sword of other pupil, grasping right forearm of first pupil with left hand, and placing right leg, behind right knee of first pupil.
4) Scene, Sports and Games: Combat -- At lower right, one of two confronted pupils wears garter on left leg, and holds sword upward against his body, with right hand on hilt, left hand grasping blade. The other student extends left hand to the sword and raises dagger with right hand.