Breastplate

Of all the possessions of the sixteenth century nobleman, none spoke more powerfully of his honour, wealth and status than his armour. This breastplate is designed for a youth and is possibly part of a series of suits presented to the future Philip III of Spain in the 1580s. As part of a matching suit of armour it would have made a spectacular display at pageants and tournaments.

Breastplates formed the centrepiece of defensive armours, usually carrying the central decorative motifs and protecting the body's vital organs. Armours for tournaments and parades were decorated according to the latest fashion and their cost made them the preserve only of the very wealthy. This pointed breastplate closely resembles the 'peascod' style of clothing popular among late 16th century nobles.

During the mid-16th century a new fashion emerged in Europe for arms and armour based on the forms found in classical art. High relief embossing and rich gold damascening decorated parade armour alla romana antica (in the ancient roman style). The decoration of this breastplate is in the style of the workshop of Lucio Piccinino (born around 1535, active around 1570-1589) of Milan. Piccinino was an armour embosser and damascener. He had, claimed Paolo Morigia in his La Nobilita' di Milano, published in 1595, “in his ornamentation of iron in relief with figures, animals and grotesque masks, etc., and likewise in his damascened work, produced masterpieces which are among the most choice and precious.”