Helmet all'Antica

Filippo Negroli

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Fashioned to resemble a head of tightly curled hair encircled by a wreath of oak leaves, this helmet evokes the appearance of an ancient hero, perhaps a Roman emperor. The reference to the oak (rovere, in Italian) may indicate that the helmet was made for a member of the della Rovere family, dukes of Urbino. The cheek-pieces are probably nineteenth-century restorations.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art