Close Hemet for a Cuirassier

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

During the seventeenth century, widespread use of firearms and artillery transformed military strategy. In numbers and tactical importance, infantry armed with muskets superseded the fully armored cavalry that had dominated European battlefields for centuries. In response, armor developed into different forms: lighter armor designed for mobility and heavier armor intended to be bulletproof. Alongside firearms, swords remained principal weapons, and were often elaborately decorated as signs of wealth, rank, and social status.

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