The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Elements of a Light-Cavalry Armor

Elements of a Light-Cavalry Armor

Date:: ca. 1510
Culture:: Italian, Milan
Medium:: Steel, etched and gilt
Dimensions:: Weight, 19 lb. 13 oz. (8987 g)
Classification:: Armor for Man
Credit Line:: Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Accession Number:: 14.25.716

This artwork is currently on display in Gallery 373

Description

This is a rare example of Italian armor decorated with fluted surfaces in the German fashion. Its etched and richly gilt decoration is derived from Christian symbolism and the Bible. The band across the top of the breastplate depicts the Virgin and Child in the center, Saint Paul on the right, and Saint George on the left. A Latin inscription below reads, CHRISTVS RES VENIT IN PACE ET DEVS HOMO FACTVS ES (Christ the King came in peace and God was made man). Another inscription, across the top of the backplate, reads, IESVS AVTEM TRANSIENS PERMEDIVM ILORVM IBAT. (But Jesus passing through their midst went his way [Luke 4:30]). The Trinity––Father, Son, and Holy Spirit––is depicted on the front of the gorget (collar).
Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Inscription: Inscribed on the breastplate: CRISTVS . RES . VENIT . IN . PA/CE . ET . DEVS . HOMO . FACTVS . ES[t] (Christ the King came in peace and God was made man) On the backplate: IESVS . AVTEM . TRANSIENS . PERMEDIVM / ILORVM . IBAT (But Jesus passing through their midst went his way [Luke 4:30])
Provenance

Charles de Bourbon, Constable of France Ex coll: de Cosson and Uboldo (No. 30, ill.)
See also
What
Metal (59,548)

Costume (42,521)

Etching (22,551)

Gilt (9,076)

Iron and iron alloy (6,911)

Iron alloy (3,359)

Steel (3,095)

Armor (2,073)
Where
Europe (146,011)

Italy (24,701)

Lombardy (301)

Milan (215)
When
A.D. 1400-1600 (20,173)
In the Museum
Arms and Armor (13,064)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Fashion in European Armor

The Decoration of European Armor

Fire Gilding of Arms and Armor

Fashion in European Armor, 1500–1600

Arms and Armor in Renaissance Europe

Venice and Northern Italy, 1400–1600 A.D.

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