The fireplace in the 19th century Cesvaine Palace, Latvia. At least since the Middle Ages hunting was the prerogative of nobles in Europe. It was some kind of military training for knights, including riding, shooting and using of a spear or a knife in the close fight with the bear or the elk. So, this noble occupation had to be shown to demonstrate skills of a castle owner by means of tropheys or art objects. The fireplace in the picture, decorated with the coat of arms and animal bas-reliefs, represents the quintessence of the romanticised knightly hunting tradition