  
  About the Artwork
  
  
  This breastplate&acirc;&#128;&#153;s round silhouette, radiating flutes, and prominently defined neckline created by a ridge of inwardly folded metal are characteristic of the early Maximilian style, whose popularity coincided with Maximilian I's coronation as Holy Roman Emperor in 1508. The gussets along the armpits were affixed with sliding rivets to allow freedom of movement, and the tight waist distributed the armor&acirc;&#128;&#153;s weight onto the wearer&acirc;&#128;&#153;s hips instead of his shoulders, an ergonomic detail like that found on today&acirc;&#128;&#153;s hiking packs.  
The marks of a crescent-shaped tool punctuate the top of each of the embossed flutes that enliven the armor&acirc;&#128;&#153;s surface, recalling the pleats of a fashionable garment. The breastplate now sports a hook-shaped lance rest like those used by horsemen to protect the shoulder while aiming a long lance. However, the fluted design&acirc;&#128;&#153;s symmetrical configuration and the presence of decorative flourishes like punched crescents underneath this rest suggest that it was added later, and that this breastplate was originally intended for use on foot, perhaps by a captain of infantry troops.
  
  
  Title
  Breastplate with Tassets
  
  
  Artwork Date
  ca. 1500-10
  
  Artist
  Master HT or TH (armorer)
  
  
  
  Life Dates
  c. 1500 - 1515
  
  
  
  
  Nationality
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events.
  Some definitions include:
  Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation.
  
  
  
  German
  
  
  
  Culture
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group.
  
  
  
  
  ----------
  
  
  Medium
  Steel, leather
  
  
  Dimensions
  Overall: 23 &Atilde;&#151; 12 15/16 &Atilde;&#151; 7 1/8 inches (58.4 &Atilde;&#151; 32.9 &Atilde;&#151; 18.1 cm)
  Overall (waist): 12 1/2 inches (31.8 cm)
  
  
  Classification
  Arms and Armor
  
  
  Department
  European Sculpture and Dec Arts
  
  
  Credit
  Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene H. Welker
  
  
  
  Accession Number
  
  
  
  This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection.
  Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum&acirc;&#128;&#153;s holdings.
  For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems&acirc;&#128;&#148;no longer assigned&acirc;&#128;&#148;that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups.
  
  
  
  56.124.3
  
  
  Copyright
  Public Domain
  
  
  
