A074L Siege Tournay by Edward III in 1340 Froissart’s Chronicles

The composition depicts a military assault on a fortified city. A substantial stone structure dominates the background, its walls punctuated by towers and crenellations. The architecture suggests a medieval European urban center, likely intended as a symbol of power and resilience. In the foreground, a small boat is engaged in a direct confrontation with the fortress’s defenses.
The artist has rendered numerous figures involved in the conflict. Soldiers clad in armor are visible both on the attacking vessel and atop the city walls. The attackers appear to be attempting to breach the gate of the fortification, engaging in close-quarters combat. Several fallen soldiers lie within the water surrounding the boat, indicating casualties on both sides. A standard bearing a heraldic flag is prominently displayed on the left side of the scene, likely signifying the attacking force’s allegiance or leadership.
The color palette is restrained, primarily utilizing earth tones – browns, greys, and ochres – for the city walls and surrounding landscape, contrasted with the brighter colors of the soldiers attire (red, blue, white). This contrast serves to highlight the figures involved in the action. The artist’s use of perspective is somewhat flattened, characteristic of medieval manuscript illumination; depth is suggested through size variation rather than linear perspective.
Beyond a straightforward depiction of military engagement, the scene conveys themes of siege warfare and territorial conflict. The scale of the fortress relative to the attacking boat emphasizes the difficulty of conquest. The presence of fallen soldiers underscores the human cost of war. The composition’s focus on the immediate action – the struggle for control of the gate – implies a narrative moment within a larger campaign, suggesting that this is but one episode in a protracted conflict. The detail afforded to individual figures, despite their small size within the overall scene, suggests an interest in portraying both the grandeur and the brutality inherent in medieval warfare.