Carl H. Cole

Publication Date

1981

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Mustari, Louis Frank, 1930-

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Art

LCSH

Manuel; Niklaus; 1484-1530; Soldiers in art

Abstract

The Swiss Renaissance artist Niklaus Manuel (1484-1530) was a major figure in sixteenth century Switzerland not only artistically, but also politically. The Italian wars of the sixteenth century, caused by a power struggle between the Hapsburg Empire and France, also involved the Swiss, in their capacity as mercenary soldiers. Niklaus Manuel showed an obvious interest in the Swiss mercenary soldier, because that subject became a major part of his graphic visual output. The question raised is whether or not Manuel drew his elaborate renditions of the Swiss mercenary soldier merely as a romantic tribute to the Swiss mercenary's adventurism, or for some other reason. Because it is next to impossible to analyse what an artist of the sixteenth century was thinking, we must turn to an examination of the soldier drawings themselves, the soldier drawings in relation to those by other artists, and most importantly the private and literary writings of Manuel. From the examination of the three areas mentioned above, the complex personality of the artist, poet, and statesman Manuel begins to unfold, revealing a central aspect of that personality which pervades both writings and drawings. That aspect is his patriotic devotion to Switzerland and his idealization of its values and virtues. Eventually we recognize that Manuel forged these feelings into a symbol, which was embodied in the figure of the Swiss mercenary soldier.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.||Includes illustrations.

Extent

vii, 77 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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