The Knight’s Farewell

This is my version of a sweet watercolour illustration of a knight leaving for the crusades in 1250 AD. The original is by Matthew Paris (1200 – 1259), an amazing monk historian who travelled around recording the life and times of medieval England. He was a monk at the St Alban’s Abbey. His main work, Chronica Major, retold world events from the creation of the world until 1259.

The original painting is by Matthew Paris, an English Benedictine monk who chronicled his time with illuminated manuscripts, cartography and drawings and watercolour washes.

Matthew Paris even created a self-portrait. His illustrations are usually full of whimsical characters and delightful line work.