Design for Shield
ca. 1550
Medium
Paper, chalk
Dimensions
7 3/4 x 3 3/4 in. (19.7 x 9.6 cm)
Classification
Works on Paper-Drawings
Culture
French, Paris
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1978
Accession Number
1978.498
Art Historical Context
This delicate chalk drawing on paper, created around 1550 by the French artist Etienne Delaune in Paris, offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind Renaissance armor. Titled *Design for Shield*, the small-scale work—measuring just under eight inches tall—serves as a preparatory study for a piece of parade armor. Such designs were essential in 16th-century France, where shields and breastplates were transformed from mere battlefield tools into elaborate symbols of status and artistry for royal courts and tournaments. Delaune’s use of chalk allows for soft shading and precise line w...
About the Artist
Etienne Delaune · 1514–1583
Comment on works: Draftsman; Engraver; Medalist