Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent Wearing the Jewel-Studded Helmet

Anonymous, Italian, Venetian, 16th century Italian

ca. 1540–50

Not on view

The magnificent four-tiered helmet that Suleyman wears was the centerpiece of a group of jeweled regalia produced by Venetian goldsmiths in conjunction with German entrepreneurs to sell to the Ottoman ruler. Modeled on the three-tiered tiara of the pope, this seemingly imperial headgear was meant to signal Suleyman’s right to universal sovereignty. Suleyman’s Grand Vizier, Ibrahim Pasha, may have collaborated on its design. He also orchestrated Roman-style triumphal entries that included staggering displays of the sultan’s wealth as a challenge to Habsburg rule. The diamond- and pearl-encrusted helmet was put on public display in the Doge’s Palace in Venice in 1532; this must have been the occasion that prompted the artist to draw a careful study of the helmet for this woodcut.

Artwork Details

Title: Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent Wearing the Jewel-Studded Helmet
Artist: Anonymous, Italian, Venetian, 16th century
Date: ca. 1540–50
Medium: Woodcut
Dimensions: Sheet: 35 1/16 × 20 3/16 in. (89 × 51.3 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1942
Object Number: 42.41.1
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Anonymous, Italian, Venetian, 16th century

In the same medium

Six Studies of a King for an Adoration, Anonymous, Italian, Venetian, 16th century Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash — Six Studies of a King for an Adoration
Anonymous, Italian, Venetian, 16th century
16th century

Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, Francesco Colonna Italian, Printed book with woodcut illustrations — Hypnerotomachia Poliphili
Multiple artists/makers
December 1499

Study of a Bearded Man Wearing the Helmet of Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, Anonymous, Italian, Venetian, 16th century Italian, Charcoal or black chalk, highlighted with white chalk — Study of a Bearded Man Wearing the Helmet of Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino
Anonymous, Italian, Venetian, 16th century
1536–40

Snake Man, Alison Saar American, Color woodcut and lithograph — Snake Man
Alison Saar
Publisher Vinalhaven Press
1994

Study of a Woman’s Dress for a Portrait, Anonymous, Italian, Venetian, 16th century Italian, Black chalk, with small traces of white chalk, on blue paper — Study of a Woman’s Dress for a Portrait
Anonymous, Italian, Venetian, 16th century
ca. 1540–60

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.