Knight of Calatrava in War Dress and Ceremonial Habit with Badge and Hat, 1842

This original antique lithograph, hand colored, is from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). The upper image shows two knights. At left a knight in war dress wears a long white tunic belted over white hose, a white cloak lined with fur and a dark hood framing his face, with a sword hanging at his side. At right the same knight in ceremonial habit, in a long curled wig, lace collar and black suit, wears a sweeping white mantle with a red cross fleury on the breast and points across to his companion. The lower image shows the badge of the knights, a gold lozenge bearing the red cross fleury and hung from a red ribbon, beside a tall black hat with a white plume and a curled ostrich feather.

The top margin is lettered "Tom. IV", "SPAGNA" and "Tav. 11". The upper caption reads "Cavaliere di Calatrava vestito da Guerriero. Lo stesso in abito di cerimonia" (Knight of Calatrava dressed as a warrior. The same in ceremonial dress), and the lower "Distintivo dei Cavalieri di Calatrava e Cappello" (Badge of the Knights of Calatrava, and hat).

The Order of Calatrava is a Spanish military religious order founded in Castile in the twelfth century, the oldest of the Spanish military orders. Its emblem is the red cross whose arms end in fleurs de lis, shown here both on the mantle and on the badge. The white habit worn by the knights reflects the order's Cistercian rule.

The bold red cross on gold makes this a strong sheet for a collection of heraldry, chivalric orders or Spanish history.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.