Art that glorifies violence (a decoding session)

Destruction with brakes

Feudal societies were based on violence, to prevent newcomers from amassing riches with which to challenge the elite – please CLICK. As well, glamorized war shored up the nobility, while keeping devastation within bounds. As the museum's works show...

If you have come to this page via "Tourism that questions", this visit concerns the Renaissance Museum.

At the museum, we will see marvelous works... that we decode

: Military procession (Museum tapestry, detail)

One example – these magnificent steeds. They were perfect for displaying power and showing off. As well, being mounted set nobles apart commoners, and horsemen could easily dominate unorganized people on foot.

But why do chronicles state that when knights were determined on victory, they might dismount and fight on foot?

The works of art reveal how glamroizing war could limit its destructiveness.

Another message – being a warrior was at the heart of nobles' identity

: This boy is growing into his status as fighter and hero.

Antiquity and mythology evoked aristocracy – please CLICK. As Victor Hugo had a character say, "The great acts of war... are those of knights and not of wig-makers."

The belief in war's glory lasted as long as nobles' power did: that is, until World War 1.