War-like Albanians, dressed in flowing garments, festooned with daggers, pistols and swords, were a favourite subject for Romantic artists, and Byron chose to be represented in Albanian costume in his famous portrait by Thomas Phillips. In the early 19th century Albanians were alleged to be the fiercest section of the Ottoman forces, and indeed there are many travellers’ descriptions of their alarming appearance. In this watercolour, Descamps had focused on the tension between the two combatants as they glare fiercely at one another and parry with their distinctive short swords [hançer.] Each goads the other on while their cloaks and white kilts [fustan] swirl about them. The drama is echoed by the men and the galloping horses approaching from the background, hoping to intervene before the outcome proves fatal.
<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Alexandre-Gabriel_Decamps" class="extiw" title="w:en:Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps"><span title="French painter (1803–1860)">Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps</span></a>
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1828<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1828-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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