Elements of a Half Armor for Foot Tournament at the Barriers
c. 1590
Medium
Steel, brass, and leather
Dimensions
H.: 142.2 cm (56 in.)
Classification
suit
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
116293
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The girth of this half armor was tailored to fit a large adult for use in a foot tournament. In this engagement participants hit each other with blunted swords or pikes. Strikes below the waist were prohibited, and a barrier protected the lower body. A now lost helmet and pair of gauntlets would have completed this armor.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...