This double-sided page, designed by Swiss-born artist Jost Amman, is from Leonhardt Fronsperger’s Kriegsbuch (1573): a sweeping, three-volume overview of war and technology in the sixteenth century.

The Kriegsbuch was not made for military use, but rather as a sensational reference for enthusiasts. Both sides of the page show military figures surrounded by interchangeable borders full of trophies. Below each figure is a description of their role given in rhyming couplets.

The first of these illustrations, displayed here, is of The Master of Ordnance, or artillery master. Its accompanying verse is translated below.¹

Of War’s Command and Offices
Master of the Artillery

I am experienced with expertise 
So that when it is not a time of peace 
The cannons will then be drawn up for me, 
And thus, operated attentively. 
To besiege a city which’s contested, 
Unyielding, and no gambit accepted, 
Then before an assault I fire upon 
The city walls, that they may fall thereon. 
Whenever a pitched battle is looming, 
Shall it always start with my guns booming,

To tear up the enemy’s formation. 
And with my well measured calculations, 
I never miss, as when loading to fire, 
I know how much powder I require 
To load right in behind the cannonball 
So that on our enemies it will fall. 
With mortars and bombs, I can be certain 
That the enemies will soon be hurting. 
And with that I earn great praise as my pay, 
At the cannon you’ll find me night and day. ²

The reverse page translation follows:
 

Book of War – Part Three
Storekeeper of the Ordnance

I am to be called the Storekeeper.
To me is entrusted all manner 
Of weapons as well as their supplies 
And then also their inventories. 
That which is given over to me 
I take care of appropriately 
At camp, on campaign or in battle –
I thoughtfully keep track of it all,
So then all is protected from loss; 
Naught carelessly wasted on dangers.

If by the army’s esteem it ought 
To obtain a little or a lot 
Of plate-armour, of pikes and spearheads, 
As well as of hand cannons and lead, 
Horseshoes, nails and also gunpowder, 
Primer, fuses and plenty other 
Equipment that the troops may require – 
Then I give them money to acquire 
It, that I may then in turn receive 
Correct reckoning of the receipt.³

Endnotes

1. Translated by Alexander Reed, Curatorial Intern, International Art, 2022. 
2. Hans Blosen and Harald Pors (eds.), Von Kriegß-Befelch und Ämptern: Leonhard Fronspergers Kriegsämter-Beschreibung in Versen von 1573 mit Holzschnitten von Jost Amman, Akademie Verlag, Berlin, pp.114–15.
3. Blosen and Pors (eds.), pp.115–16.