Parade Shield for the Bodyguard of Wolf-Dietrich von Raitenau, Archbishop of Salzburg, ca. 1595

  • Italian, Venice

Wood, tooled leather, metal leaf, polychromy, varnish

  • Overall: 24 1/2 inches (62.2 cm)

Museum Purchase, Jill Ford Murray Fund

2022.5

On View

  • European: Medieval and Renaissance, Level 2, West

Department

European Sculpture and Dec Arts

Using the Venetian technique of cuoridoro (gilded leather) this shield’s maker covered its wooden core in leather, followed by layers of gesso and metal leaf. The enamel-like surface was created with a unique formula of pigments and oil. This technique’s shimmering effect and decorative floral patterns emulated luxurious leather goods that were imported from the Ottoman Empire and Persia (present-day Turkey and Iran). This shield embodies the influences of the Islamic World on European art in the late 1500s.

ca. 1595-1600, made for the bodyguard of Prince Bishop Wolf-Dietrich von Raitenau [r. 1587–d. 1612] (Salzburg, Austria)

from 1612 until at least 1699, by descent through the archbishops of Salzburg in the Hohensalzburg arsenal. by 1913-1964, The Armoury of the Überacker [Uiberracker or Ueberacker] Family in (Sighartstein Castle, Sigharstein, near Salzburg, Austria)

1964, by descent to Gabrielle, Grafin von Überacker [1915-1999], and Josef Graf Palffy von Erdöd (Sighartstein Castle, Sigharstein, Austria)

1999, removed by Martin Graf Palffy von Erdöd and transferred to his private residence in (Vienna, Austria)

2014, sold at auction by (Hermann Historica, Munich, Germany)

2014, private collection (United Kingdom)

2019, sold to (Peter Finer, Ltd., London, United Kingdom)

2022-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

Italian, Venice, Parade Shield for the Bodyguard of Wolf-Dietrich von Raitenau, Archbishop of Salzburg, ca. 1595, wood, tooled leather, metal leaf, polychromy, varnish. Detroit Institute of Arts, Museum Purchase, Jill Ford Murray Fund, 2022.5.