The Bowes Museum Blog

Knights in armour practised their skills in mock tournaments, where each knight on a horse rode down a track separated by a low fence from his opponent on the other side, and tried to unseat him with a blow from a lance. These could lead to death. Henry II of France was killed in one in the 16th century. Here the knight has been armed by his beloved in the chapel where he has been praying, seeking God’s support before the combat.

On loan from: Tate: Purchased with assistance from Sir Arthur Du Cros Bt and Sir Otto Beit KCMG through the Art Fund 1916

The damsel of the Sanct Grael (Holy Grail) is a minor character in Thomas Malory’s Morte d’Arthur. However Rossetti included her in some designs illustrating the quest for the Grail, showing her offering the chalice to the Knights, instead of Christ, as described by Malory. Here the damsel holds her right hand in a gesture of blessing. Her left hand clasps the Grail and a basket containing the Host, while the dove symbolises the Holy Spirit.

On loan from: Tate: Purchased with assistance from Sir Arthur Du Cros Bt and Sir Otto Beit KCMG through the Art Fund 1916

On loan from: Tate: Presented by Andrew Bain 1925

This painting shows a Medieval artist in his studio painting a model posing as St Catherine. She holds a palm branch which symbolises her martyrdom and a wheel, the instrument of execution with which she was threatened.

During the 1850s Rossetti focused on producing watercolours which he sold privately to individual collectors. This picture is the only oil painting he completed at this time.

On loan from: Tate: Bequeathed by Mrs Emily Toms in memory of her father, Joseph Kershaw 1931

Joan of Arc (1412-1431) was a French female warrior whose visions told her to drive the English from France. She was initially very successful, but was finally captured by the English and executed at Rouen. Her reputation was forgotten until her rediscovery in the 19th century.

For writers and artists, she had the fascination of taking on a man’s role in Medieval warfare. We do not know exactly how she dressed, but the artist has enjoyed depicting a strong female figure in man’s armour.

A leading Medieval text for Pre-Raphaelites was Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte d’Arthur which sets down the story of King Arthur and his Knights and how they gathered about a round table before setting out in Quest of the Holy Grail; allegedly brought to England by Joseph of Arimathea, the uncle of Jesus’s mother, Mary. Rossetti here unites two scenes from the text: one relates to Percival, who achieves the Grail quest with his fellow Knights, Galahad and Bors; the other relates to his sister, who gives her life to heal a woman who could only be saved by the blood of a virgin. Rossetti shows the Knights receiving the Grail before an altar, whilst beside them Percival’s sister lies on the ground awaiting burial.

On loan from: Tate: Bequeathed by Beresford Rimington Heaton 1940