Shield
Unknown Artist
ca. 1600
Medium
Wood, leather, gesso, polychromy, gold, silver foil
Dimensions
Diam. 23 1/2 in. (59.69 cm); Wt. 4 lb. 12 oz. (2155 g)
Classification
Shields
Culture
Italian, probably Venice
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Stephen V. Grancsay, 1942
Accession Number
42.50.31
Art Historical Context
This stunning parade shield, dating to around 1600 and likely crafted in Venice, Italy, exemplifies the opulent fusion of function and artistry in Renaissance arms and armor. Measuring 23½ inches in diameter and weighing over 4 pounds, it was designed not for battlefield combat—by this era, firearms had diminished the role of shields—but for ceremonial display, perhaps in tournaments or processions. Its Venetian origins highlight the city's renown as a hub for luxurious metalwork and decorative arts, blending martial tradition with the grandeur of the Serenissima Republic. Crafted from a wood...