This striking publication examines two masterful armors for man and horse recently acquired by the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Among the earliest complete European examples in existence, these German works demonstrate the superior design and craftsmanship of princely armor in the early 16th century. The celebrated master Wilhelm von Worms the Elder (d. 1538) of Nuremberg made the luxurious, exquisitely decorated steel horse armor for Duke Ulrich of Württemberg (1487-1550). The man armor was crafted by Matthes Deutsch (last documented c. 1505) of Landshut, another distinguished armorer patronized by German princes; it is his latest and most sumptuous work. 
Princely Armor in the Age of Dürer discusses the function, design, decoration, and manufacture of these masterpieces and situates them within German art, culture, and politics, and within the development of European armor in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.

Princely Armor in the Age of Dürer: A Renaissance Masterpiece in the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Arts & Photography

Terjanian, Pierre

History & Criticism

Philadelphia Museum of Art

A detailed look at the ambition and artistic legacy of Emperor Maximilian I and his passion for armor and chivalry Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (1459–1519) crafted a public persona and personal mythology that earned him the romantic sobriquet the “Last Knight” and that perpetuates his legend to this day. In his lifelong quest to establish himself as Europe’s noblest ruler, he commissioned art, epics, and lineages, as well as exceptional armor from the most celebrated armorers in Europe. Published to coincide with the 500th anniversary of his death, this book discusses the ramifications of Maximilian’s wide-ranging political aspirations and artistic legacy and is the first to concentrate on the importance of armor and concepts of chivalry in the construction of his identity. Maximilian established the prominence of the Habsburgs through advantageous alliances, expanding their dominions across Europe and into the New World. He commissioned grandiose projects, some of which rank among the most ambitious in European history. But more than this, he created a profile for the ruler—a combination of idealism and vainglory—that not only helped shape the identity of the growing German nation but also has resonances in the current political climate worldwide. This superb volume provides a rare picture of how art, armor, and the cult of personality helped shape the politics of Europe at the dawn of the Renaissance.

The Last Knight: The Art, Armor, and Ambition of Maximilian I

Biographies & Memoirs

Historical

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Books by Terjanian, Pierre