Standard Bearer

Sebald Beham

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts a man standing upright, turned slightly to the left. He has a distinct facial expression with defined eyebrows, a mustache, and a beard. His curly hair is covered by an elaborate hat, and he wears a detailed garment with padded components and wide puffed sleeves. He holds a sword in his left hand and a shovel over his right shoulder. A textured cloak billows out behind him. In the background are subtle landscape elements, such as a tree and plants. A plinth beside him indicates the date of the image as 1536.