Gauntlet for the Right Hand, Belonging to the Armor of Don Alonzo Pérez de Guzman el Bueno (1550–1619), Count of Niebla and Duke of Medina-Sidonia

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The gauntlet's elaborately chiseled and damascened decoration exemplifies the highest quality of late Renaissance Milanese metalworking. The owner's crowned monogram on the cuff identifies the gauntlet as belonging to the armor of Don Alonzo Pérez de Guzman el Bueno (1550–1619), count of Niebla and duke of Medina-Sidonia, the commander of the ill-fated armada sent against England in 1588. The rest of the duke's armor, a heavy bulletproof harness that was practical despite its rich decoration, is preserved in the Royal Armory, Madrid.

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