The Battle of Cannae

What it is

This is a painted miniature from a three-volume French manuscript, a translation of the Roman history by Livy made by Pierre Bersuire. The illumination shows the battle of Cannae, fought in 216 BCE. It was made in Paris, probably between about 1390 and 1400, by an artist in the circle of the Luçon Master or the Ravenelle Master. The manuscript is held by the Bibliothèque nationale de France as Fr. 159.

The image shows armored soldiers on white horses and on foot fighting among helmeted men with raised swords. Bodies lie in the foreground, and blood is visible. The gold-tinted background is typical of the period.

Why it matters

Livy wrote his history of Rome long after the events he described, and this French version was made even later. The picture therefore reflects how medieval readers imagined an ancient battle, with knights and armor rather than ancient equipment. Hannibal led the Carthaginian army at Cannae, and the scene connects him to Livy's account of Roman defeat.

Look closer

• What clothing and weapons do the soldiers wear, and which details look medieval rather than ancient?
• Who made this picture, and why might a 14th-century French patron want an ancient battle illustrated?
• What does the image leave out, such as the reasons for the battle or the perspective of the defeated Romans?