Hussar's Armor
1675/1700
Medium
Steel, brass, and leather
Dimensions
H.: 94 cm (37 in.)
Classification
suit
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
106282
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
For better mobility, some light cavalrymen, such as the legendary Polish hussars, wore half armor. The hussars, an elite branch of the Polish army, went into battle in glittering armor on magnificent horses, seldom losing a battle though they were many times outnumbered by the enemy. Recruited from among the wealthiest of Poland’s nobility, the hussars were accomplished horsemen, famous for the huge "wings" worn on their backs or attached to their saddles. These wings were made of wooden wing-sh...
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...