Arms and Armor from Imperial Austria
Feb 24 - Jun 01, 2008
This important exhibition of about 280 items will present outstanding examples of the armorer?s craft, including imperial suits of armor, from this important historic collection. These spectacular examples of armor and weapons will be displayed in the broader context of paintings?portraits, in particular?graphics, and decorative arts of the period. The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of arms and armor produced in imperial Austria under the Habsburgs as well as their historic placement and significance.
The first full suits of plate armor were developed in the Holy Roman Empire during the late Middle Ages. Designed for protection in combat, armor reached the peak of production in the 16th century. Medieval armories were strategically important buildings in many European cities, functioning as arsenals, workshops, and, in some cases, fortresses. The Habsburgs, the ruling family of the Holy Roman Empire, were the great patrons of Austrian armor, including weapons such as swords and firearms. Maximilian I and Ferdinand I, who reigned over Austria from 1493 to 1519 and from 1556 to 1564, respectively, played major roles in the establishment of the Habsburg arsenal, the Landeszeughaus in Graz, a city in the southern Austrian region of Styria. Constantly threatened by Ottoman invasion, the Habsburgs devoted considerable energy and resources to defending and expanding their territory.
Created for battles as well as jousts, suits of armor and arms were elaborately decorated with innovative, intricate designs that reflected the owner?s social status. These works of art, embellished with gilding, painting, heat coloration, etching, and inlay, display a wide variety of designs and motifs that add an important artistic dimension. These designs are now recognized for their artistic value and establish arms and armor as a viable and important branch of European decorative arts.
The Landeszeughaus, with its original buildings and inventory intact, is one of the largest and best-preserved armories in existence.