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Suit of armor, Italy, circa 1580 Front view

Musée de l'Armée - Hôtel des Invalides

Musée de l'Armée - Hôtel des Invalides
Paris, France

There are several questions that remain unanswered about this superb foot soldier's half-armor. The first is about the creator of this work, which boasts refined lines and decoration with exceptional attention to detail covering the entire surface of this life-size work of art. Effectively, no hallmarks have been found on any of the various metal pieces (cabasset, neck plate, cuisse, brassards, and tassets) and no written document (accounting book, inventory after death, chronicles) or iconography (painting, illumination, or stained glass) mentions or depicts this suit of armor. That being said, this work is reminiscent, in both style and form, of that of Maestro del Castello, an artisan working in Lombardy at the end of the 14th century.
The other main question that remains unanswered is who the suit of armor was made for. Indeed, despite several clues, it is impossible to put forward any specific names. It is certain that this suit of armor was designed to protect an officer of the company of the Royal Guard. However, since the suits of armor for almost all royal courts of Europe were produced in Lombardy, it would be difficult to even begin to guess. Even the decoration of the intertwined insignia, with a crowned "M" in the center on a once-golden background with several traces of gilt still visible, merely narrows it down to someone with the title of "Lord" at the time.
It remains a total mystery.

Details

  • Title: Suit of armor, Italy, circa 1580 Front view
  • Date Created: between 1580 and 1590
  • Location Created: Italy
  • Physical Dimensions: Without support: 0,74 (w) x 1,07 (h) m / With support: 1,80 (h) x 0,40 (l) m
  • Provenance: acquisition date: November 1964 (purchase); previous collection: José Estruch y Cumella
  • Subject Keywords: Protection, Ornament
  • Type: Bourguignotte
  • Rights: Photo (C) Paris - Musée de l'Armée, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Philippe Fuzeau
  • Medium: Fer, Cuir, Gravé, Doré
  • Inventory: 576 PO

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