This vivid and intricately symbolic painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti captures a poignant prelude to war, with a noblewoman presenting a sword to a kneeling knight as a gesture of honor and blessing. Rossetti, a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, was known for his romantic medievalism, rich color palette, and elaborate attention to textile and pattern. The tapestry behind the figures is laden with narrative detail, telling its own story and reinforcing the layered symbolism of loyalty, sacrifice, and beauty. The figures' expressions and posture reflect both reverence and emotion, inviting the viewer into a story beyond the canvas.