Ruggiero 1597

Antonio Tempesta created this etching of ‘Ruggiero’ sometime between 1570 and 1630. This print depicts a celebrated knight from Italian Renaissance literature, specifically from Ludovico Ariosto's epic poem "Orlando Furioso." Tempesta, working in Italy, straddled the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods, a time of immense social and political change. The image of Ruggiero, the brave Saracen knight, is less about historical accuracy and more about the performative aspects of nobility and heroism. Observe the detail of the armor, the confident posture, and the elaborate adornment of the horse, all symbols of power and status. Yet, how might we consider this representation today? Ruggiero, a figure of both admiration and ‘otherness,’ embodies the complexities of cultural identity. Through Tempesta's detailed etching, we are invited to consider not only the valor of a knight but also the intricate dance between identity, representation, and historical narrative.