Pictures of (mostly) Swiss Soldiers by Urs Graf

Urs Graf (born c. 1485 in Solothurn, Switzerland; possibly died before 13 October 1528) was a Swiss Renaissance goldsmith, painter and printmaker (of woodcuts, etchings and engravings), as well as a mercenary soldier. He only produced two etchings, one of which dates from 1513 – the earliest known etching for which a date has been established. However, his woodcuts are considered of greater significance, particularly as he is attributed with the invention of the white-line woodcut technique, where white lines create the image on a black background. He also produced a few engravings, including copies of works by Martin Schongauer and Albrecht Dürer. He produced innovative drawings intended as finished works of art rather than just studies.


War wife with two children
Source   Date: 1508


Richtstätte
Source   Date: 1513


Bearded Man
Source


Man with a sundial

Source


Battle of Marignano

Date: 1521


Werbung, 1515




Soldier carrying the standard of Schaffhouse
Source


Four Fifers
Date: 1523


Bagpiper
Pen and ink drawing by Urs Graf, Basel 1525 (Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris).
Source


Schreitender Landsknecht
Source   Date: 1st Half of the 16th Century



Mercenary love
c.1511



Landsknecht
Date: 1513



Pikeman
Date: 1514



Pikeman (rear)
Date: 1514



Standard Bearer
Date: 1514



Consiglio di guerra
Date: 1515



Waffenrock
Date: 1516



Swiss Mercenary and prostitute
Date: 1516



Landsknecht and Devil.
Date: 1516.



Ensign with Boy at
Wayside Cross     Date: 1516



Standard bearer and prostitute
Date: 1516



Man in coat and creature
Date: 1518



Returning Landsknecht.
Date: 1519



Krieger im harnisch.
Date: 1519



Bearer of Julius Banner of Zug
Date: 1521



The Bearer of the Banner of
the Canton Glarus    Date: 1521



Standard Bearer of Zurich.
Date: 1521



Standard Bearer of Schaffhausen



Standard Bearer of Solothurn



Standard Bearer of St Gallen



Standard Bearer of Appenzell



Standard Bearer of Zug




Standard Bearer of Glarus



Standard Bearer of Schwyz



Standard Bearer of Unterwalden

Standard Bearer of Fribourg



Standard Bearer of Basel




Swiss Mercenary
Date: 1523



2 mercenaries & a woman
with Death    Date: 1524



Battle of the Lansquenets
Date: 1510-1530





See also Renaissance Warfare - Swiss by George Gush

Emperor Maximilian I's The Adventures of the Knight Theuerdank, 1517
Other Swiis Illustrations of Costume and Soldiers
Index of Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers