I couldn't find anywhere where this was posted, so here it is:

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/armorinfo.shtm

This exhibit includes both armours from the Ameria Real in Madrid and artwork relating to it, including pairings of royal portraits with the harnesses depicted. For instance, the Burgundy Cross Garniture is displayed next to a portrait of Philip II wearing it.

This exhibit is incredible for anyone interested in 16th century armour, particularly if you haven't been able to go to Madrid. It includes several harnesses/pieces of armour featured in the Man of War Charles V article on this site, such as the Masks Garniture and the Hunt Tonlet, three quarter harness, beard burgonet by negroli etc... and several more pieces that have been featured here, such as the Philip I Pomegranate Sallet/Close Helm and many other gems beside, such as a sword of one of the sultans of Granada c 1400 and several other armours. The vast majority of the full harnesses on display are by either a Negroli or a Helmschmid (there are pieces attributed to Lorenz, Kolman and Desederius). Artworks include three enormous tapestries, a full display of the Triumphal Arch of Maximilian, the aforementioned portraits and more.

I'll post detailed impressions later.

-Wilhelm

Yep! Its a very nice exhibit for anyone in the area. I just went this past Saturday. Its nice, because I've seen photos of every single piece displayed in various books, but its so much nicer to see them up close. Many of the helmets are in glass boxes where you can look around the entire thing. There are some incredibly nice pieces there.

Beautiful! Did either of you buy the catalog? If so, do you recommend it?

I did, I would say that it's quite good. There's a little info on the pieces that wasn't in the exhibit proper, and some essays that I'm not done with on the history of the collection, the art history of armoured portraiture etc. It also includes many drawings from the 16th century catalogue of the Armeria Real, which allows you to compare the pieces in the catalogue with their appearence 450 years ago.

-Wilhelm

I thought it was a very nice exibit being focused predominantly on the armours of Charles V but with a few pieces belonging to Philip the Handsome and some of Charles' descendents. I was surprised to learn of Charles' penchant for demi-greaves and had not previously seen the rondache displayed as a cavalry shield in Europe. Speaking of rondaches several of these retain grips, straps and quilted backing.