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In order to pursue his ambitions in France, Henry VIII formed an alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I. This painting records their meeting and the main events pertaining to Henry’s first campaign against the French in 1513.

The composit
European Armour in the Royal Collection

An introduction to European armour in the Royal Collection.

NORTH-GERMAN, PROBABLY BRUNSWICK

Parts of a field garniture of Duke Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel with associated helmet, gauntlets, greaves and sabatons

1563 - 1800

RCIN 62997

This armour is one of a series featuring the Biblical scene of Daniel in the Lions' Den and was most likely made for the personal elite guard of Duke Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1528–1589).  Its decoration is of exceptional quality.  A number of allegorical and classical figures, including Hercules, Venus and Victory, appear alongside trophies and classical heads with wreaths of laurel.  The etcher responsible would have been a member of the Brunswick painters’ guild.  The guild accepted an etched ‘heavy field armour (Curitz) or light field armour (Drabbharnisch)' as a master piece, which suggests that decorating armour was a significant source of employment for its members.  Among them was Franz Bock, the most likely decorator of this armour.  He and other Brunswick armour etchers drew their designs from a range of popular graphic sources, including engravings by artists like Daniel Hopfer (c.1470-1536) and prints by Heironymus Cock (1518-1570).


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