Posts: 11,553 Location: San Francisco
Wed 20 Dec, 2006 9:02 pm
That armour is found at the
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. HJRK Inv. No. A-1400
It is often known as the "Hercules Armour", circa 1550. It was decorated by Eliseus Libaerts (1557-69) based on the designs of Etienne Delaune (1518/19-82).
Please read more about the design in our article:
French Royal Armour as Reflected in the Designs of Etienne Delaune.
This is what the museum says of it:
The goldsmith Eliseus Libaerts decorated this armour according to sketches by the French court artist Etienne Delaune (1518/19-1582) for Maximilian II. As an expensive Kunstkammer object it was most likely never worn. On grayed ground are finely chaste tendrils which end in animal heads, masks and half figures; interspersed are fabled creatures, snakes, satyrs, or hanging fruit. Admidst this are figurative scenes showing some of the Herculean Labours. On the lower part of the breastplate two double tailed Bohemian lions hold a coat of arms as proof of Maximilians kingship, which he had since 1549.