Gonzaga Cycle: Federico I Gonzaga Relieves Legnano

In 1478 Federico I Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, took over from his father Ludovico as captain-general of the Milanese army, and soon afterwards enemy troops besieged Legnano, a town in Milanese territory. Then, as the Alte Pinakothek points out, very little happened. When Federico marched out to meet them, the besiegers withdrew without a fight. So the battle on this canvas, painted around 1578/79 for his great-grandson Duke Guglielmo, is pure invention, with its rearing horses, levelled lances and bodies underfoot. There is a second story in the paint. The commander was first the rider in the middle of the picture. At the patron's request Tintoretto went back and gave Federico's face to the fierce horseman in the foreground, the one charging out towards you.