The Art Behind The Game - 3
by Hany J
Title
The Art Behind The Game - 3
Artist
Hany J
Medium
Photograph - Original Photo
Description
Back in the 1100’s, Arabian and Turkish horsemen played a game on horseback. They took it very seriously, so seriously that Italian and Spanish crusaders who watched, described the contest as a “little war” or garosello and carosella respectively. Old Turkish drawings show part of a carousel’s use as a way to practice cavalry riding skills. The riders must knock off the hat of a man standing holding a stick. It was probably considered a man’s combat training more than an amusement ride. The crusaders brought the game back to Europe where it became, in time, an extravagant display of horsemanship and finery that the French called carrousel. The royalty of the 18th century started to have the fanciest carousel ride possible in their private gardens. A major event of the carrousel was the ring-spearing tournament in which a man would ride his horse or chariot full tilt, lance in hand, toward a small ring hanging from a tree limb or pole by brightly colored ribbons. The object, of course, was to spear the ring. Then about 300 years ago, an unknown Frenchman got the idea to build a device to train young noblemen in the art of ring-spearing. His device consisted of carved horses and chariots suspended by chains from arms radiating from a center pole. This was probably the beginning of the carousel as we have come to know it. By the late 1700’s, there were numerous carousels built solely for amusement scattered throughout Europe.
An old carousel legend says that there is a lead horse on every carousel. The way to find the lead horse is to look for the biggest, most beautifully decorated horse. Usually, this horse is a war horse or a military horse. Another way to find the lead horse can only be used if there is a chariot on the carousel. The lead horse is the first horse right behind the chariot on the outside of the platform.
All images are taken with a Canon 5D III (full frame) and a Canon 7D II (crop frame) using a variety of Canon L-Series lenses, and Tamron and Sigma pro-line lenses; processed in RAW with ACR, PSC, Photomatix, and a variety of other imaging software.
All images are Copyright © 2017 Hany G. Jadaa; C.Chem. M.Sc. Eng.; and Copyright © 2017 Prince John Photography (the Artist). The material contained herein may not be reproduced, copied, edited, published, transmitted or downloaded in any way, shape or form. All rights are reserved. Copying, altering, displaying or redistribution of any of these images without written permission from the Artist is strictly prohibited and will be prosecuted under US, Canadian, European, and Australian Copyright laws.
Image is available for purchase at higher resolution and no copyright stamps upon request. Please contact the artist directly at pjphotography@uniserve.com
Uploaded
December 11th, 2017
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