Breastplate

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The hatched ground and lively nature of the decoration are excellent examples of the highest quality of etching found on Italian armor in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Also characteristic are the central band of classically inspired trophies and the horizontal frieze with depictions of saints. Here, the Christ Child as the Salvator Mundi (Savior of the World) appears in the center, flanked by Saint Christopher and Saint Sebastian.

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