A Young Warrior

Tullio Lombardo Italian

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 504

This youth clad in antique-styled armor may represent Saint George or Saint Theodore, Christian warriors who were especially venerated in Venice. He would have led a lance in his right hand and may have guarded a tomb. His energetic pose, twist of his head, and tensely held arms convey the alertness required of a guardian figure. Truthfulness to classical examples was esteemed in Renaissance Venice; this sculptor paid particular attention to rendering the delicately textured scrolling vines that decorate the breastplate, and even carved the laces that hold the metal sleeves together. He left the back unfinished, which indicates it was originally installed in a niche or against a wall.

A Young Warrior, Tullio Lombardo (Italian, ca. 1455–1532) , and workshop, White marble, Italian, Venice

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

A Young Warrior, Tullio Lombardo (Italian, ca. 1455–1532) , and workshop, White marble, Italian, Venice
A Young Warrior, Tullio Lombardo (Italian, ca. 1455–1532) , and workshop, White marble, Italian, Venice

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.