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Source Description
This armor is engraved all over with a design based on an M, signifying the duchy of Medina Sidonia. It was made for Don Alonso Perez de Guzman el Bueno, duke of Medina Sidonia (1550-1615). Extremely rich, he was also commander of the Spanish fleet (the Armada) under King Philip II (father of the Archduchess Isabella, Spanish governor of the Southern Netherlands).The background is darkened to contrast with the raised, partially gilded decoration. This armor was for use on horseback on the battlefield or for tournament jousting; on the right side of the breastplate are holes for bolting a lance rest. This "suit" was originally complemented by other pieces so that different combinations could be used for combat and sport. In the late 1500s, Milan, ruled by Spain (with the duke of Medina Sidonia as its captain-general), was one of the great European centers of armor making.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
17890
label
Armor for the Duke of Medina Sidonia
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
3
Source metadata
id
17890
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Armor for the Duke of Medina Sidonia
description
This armor is engraved all over with a design based on an M, signifying the duchy of Medina Sidonia. It was made for Don Alonso Perez de Guzman el Bueno, duke of Medina Sidonia (1550-1615). Extremely rich, he was also commander of the Spanish fleet (the Armada) under King Philip II (father of the Archduchess Isabella, Spanish governor of the Southern Netherlands).The background is darkened to contrast with the raised, partially gilded decoration. This armor was for use on horseback on the battlefield or for tournament jousting; on the right side of the breastplate are holes for bolting a lance rest. This "suit" was originally complemented by other pieces so that different combinations could be used for combat and sport. In the late 1500s, Milan, ruled by Spain (with the duke of Medina Sidonia as its captain-general), was one of the great European centers of armor making.
provenance
Dukes of Mendoza and Medina Sidonia (?); Don Joaquin Álvarez de Toledo, 20th Duke of Medina Sidonia (1894-1955) [date and mode of acquisition unknown];Duke of Medina Sidonia Sale, 1924; Marquis de Mondejar [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1925 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
ca. 1590
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Arms & Armor
body armor
imageCount
3
pageCount
3
source
import
dimensionsRaw
67 in. (170.2 cm)
Source extras
med
steel with traces of fire-gilding and silver inlay; modern leather and velvet
creator_ids
33562
collection_ids
ARM
BAR
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
5f3329660eb0e94c
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
b641759764faf6ef
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
c24ecf14def94611
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no