The Exercise of Armes
Medium
leather bound paper, 117 engraved plates
Dimensions
27.5 × 19 cm
Classification
Bound Volume
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund
Accession Number
2022.21
Tags
male
About this artwork
The Exercise of Armes, published in 1607–8, is one of the most famous manuals of arms. Jacob De Gheyn's book became popular all over Europe and was quickly translated into several languages. Its 117 copper engravings portray the step-by-step sequence for training foot soldiers in the handling of standard weaponry of 17th-century warfare: muskets, matchlock or calivers, and pikes.