Research for Agincourt painting

Online Catalogue | Historical Art | Battles | The Battle of Agincourt | Research for Agincourt painting

Medieval artist Graham Turner has created a major oil painting to mark the 600th anniversary of the battle of Agincourt in 2015. To see the result of his efforts, with detail images and step-by-step photos showing how the painting evolved, CLICK HERE

On this page he shares some of the research that went into the creation of this painting, specifically the armour and appearance of those that took part in the battle. He plans to add more as time allows......

Armour at the battle of Agincourt

By 1415 plate armour had developed to provide almost total protection, although the latest harnesses were probably only worn by the wealthiest knights and armour of 14th century appearance was still recent enough to be seen on the battlefield.

Graham Turner's drawing on the right shows Sir John Cornwall (1364-1443), one of the most respected knights of his period, and a leading figure in the Agincourt campaign. He is shown wearing armour of the late 14th/early 15th century, with the distinctive shape of the globose breastplate under his surcoat, and still retaining the bascinet with mail aventail, but with the later rounded visor. This is based on tomb effigies, in particular that of Sir Fulk Pembrugge (d.1409) in St. Bartholomew's church at Tong in Shropshire.

This original drawing is sold, but prints are available - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS and to see a larger image.

The figure on the left wears the latest style of great bascinet, with plate defences for the throat and neck rather than the mail aventail of the 14th century bascinet. While offering greater protection, the great bascinet restricted any movement of the head, and both styles would be seen on the battlefields of the early 15th century.

The armour is primarily based on the tomb effigy of Ralph Greene, at Lowick church, Northamptonshire (died 1417), and the very similar effigy of John de Vere, Earl of Oxford.

The surcoat displays the heraldry of Thomas Montagu, Earl of Salisbury.

This original drawing is sold but prints are available - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS and to see a larger image.

The knight on the right is based on the tomb effigy of Sir Edmund de Thorpe, and shows several differences to the others, notably in the fan shaped fluting on the wings of the couters and poleyns. His armour is worn uncovered and shows the plate fauld protecting the lower body.

Graham Turner's sketch on the right shows several great bascinets and illustrates how these developed, from that at the top right, taken from an early 15th century manuscript illumination, showing what is essentially an earlier bascinet with an added gorget plate, to the surviving example (top left) which has additional plates at the front and rear, and (bottom left) another surviving helmet from Pamplona Cathedral in Spain. The central drawing is based on great bascinets seen on memorial tomb effigies, and also the surviving helmet in the British Museum.

Graham is continuing his research and will add further drawings in due course, including French nobles and men at arms, archers and other combatents.

Agincourt print

Graham Turner's painting of the Battle of Agincourt is available as a high quality print - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

A special canvas edition is also be available, in two alternative sizes, with each reproduction individually printed on very high quality canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars by the artist himself, ensuring a picture as close to the original as possible.

Archers at Agincourt Limited Edition Print

Archers of Henry V’s exhausted army shoot their deadly arrows at the first wave of French cavalry, repulsing their attack and sending the survivors back into the path of the main French army.

Graham Turner's painting of the archers at Agincourt is available as a Limited Edition Giclée print, LIMITED TO 100 COPIES ONLY, numbers 1-20 being reproduced on canvas just like the original oil painting. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

ONLY ONE CANVAS REMAINS

Agincourt Pencil Prints

Four prints are available, reproduced from Graham Turner's pencil drawings of armour from the time of Agincourt.

Size A3 - £15 each plus p&p - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS