Peter of Amiens Preaching the Crusade and Two Crusaders in Mail, 1842

An original antique lithograph, hand colored, from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). The upper image shows a bald, bearded preacher in a brown habit and a white mantle marked with a red cross, standing on a rock beneath a tree with one arm raised and a banner bearing a red cross in the other hand; facing him on a grassy slope is a crowd of listeners, among them a man in a yellow tunic and pink hose seen from behind, a figure in a blue mantle and a man climbing a bank. The lower image shows two crusaders in full mail with red crested helmets and yellow trimmed hems, the left one shouldering a crescent bladed axe, the right one with a hand on his chest, a sword at his side and a shield with diagonal stripes.

The top margin is lettered "Tom. IV", "FRANCIA" and "Tav. 29". Under the upper image: "Pietro d' Amiens che predica la Crociata" (Peter of Amiens preaching the Crusade). Under the lower image: "Crociati" (Crusaders).

Peter of Amiens, better known as Peter the Hermit, was a French preacher who stirred large crowds to join the First Crusade after Pope Urban II called for it in 1095. The cross sewn on the clothing, shown here on his mantle and banner, was the badge taken by those who vowed to go on crusade.

The scene and the two armored figures suit a library or study with an interest in medieval history.

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