Armor for Man and Horse Presumably Made for Baron Pankraz von Freyberg (1508–1565)
Wolfgang Grosschedel was the most famous Landshut armorer of his generation. Included among his patrons were the Holy Roman Emperor and Philip II of Spain. These armors for man and horse constitute superb examples of Grosschedel's work from different periods in his career.
The man's armor, dating from about 1535–40, is stamped with Grosschedel's personal mark and that of Landshut. The etched decoration includes human figures and ornaments copied from engravings by the German printmaker Barthel Beham (1502–1540). The armor is part of a garniture that originally included exchange elements for use in battle and in the tourney, a mock combat fought with lances and swords.
The horse armor, dated 1554, is complete and homogeneous and, though unmarked, can be attributed to Grosschedel on stylistic grounds. The escutcheon on the shaffron (defense for the horse's head) bears the arms of a member of the Bavarian family Freyberg von Aschau, possibly Pankraz von Freyberg (1508–1565). The armors for both man and horse were preserved together in the armory of Hohenaschau Castle, the historical seat of the Freybergs, until the mid-nineteenth century.
The man's armor, dating from about 1535–40, is stamped with Grosschedel's personal mark and that of Landshut. The etched decoration includes human figures and ornaments copied from engravings by the German printmaker Barthel Beham (1502–1540). The armor is part of a garniture that originally included exchange elements for use in battle and in the tourney, a mock combat fought with lances and swords.
The horse armor, dated 1554, is complete and homogeneous and, though unmarked, can be attributed to Grosschedel on stylistic grounds. The escutcheon on the shaffron (defense for the horse's head) bears the arms of a member of the Bavarian family Freyberg von Aschau, possibly Pankraz von Freyberg (1508–1565). The armors for both man and horse were preserved together in the armory of Hohenaschau Castle, the historical seat of the Freybergs, until the mid-nineteenth century.
Artwork Details
- Title: Armor for Man and Horse Presumably Made for Baron Pankraz von Freyberg (1508–1565)
- Armorer: Wolfgang Grosschedel (German, Landshut, active ca. 1517–62)
- Date: man's armor, ca. 1535–40; horse armor, dated 1554; saddle steels, later restorations
- Geography: Landshut
- Culture: German, Landshut
- Medium: Steel; leather, copper alloy, textile
- Dimensions: Wt. of man's armor approx. 55 lb. 11 oz. (25.25 kg); Wt. of horse armor with saddle 65 lb. 7 oz. (29.69 kg); helmet (a): H. 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm); W. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm); D. 13 5/8 in. (34.6 cm); Wt. 7 lb. 9.8 oz. (3454 g); gorget (b): H. 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm); W. 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm); D. 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm); Wt. 3 lb. 4.2 oz. (1479 g); breastplate (c): H. 14 1/16 in. (35.7 cm); W. 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm); D. 9 3/8 in. (23.8 cm); Wt. 8 lb. 1.4 oz. (3669 g); lance rest (d): H. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm); W. 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm); D. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm); Wt. 13.9 oz. (394 g); tasset (e): H. 11 in. (17.9 cm); W. 18 1/2 in. (47 cm); D. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm); Wt. 3 lb. 7.6 oz. (1575 g); backplate (f): H. 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm); W. 14 3/16 in. (36 cm); D. 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm); Wt. 5 lb. 10.05 oz. (2553 g); right pauldron (g): H. 11 in. (27.9 cm); W. 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm); D. 12 1/8 in. (30.8 cm); Wt. 3 lb. 4.95 oz. (1500 g); left paudron (h): 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm); W. 11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm); D. 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm); Wt. 3 lb. 15.55 oz. (1802 g); right vambrace (arm defense) (i): H. 19 5/16 in. (49.1 cm); W. 7 5/16 in. (18.6 cm); D. 5 in. (12.7 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 10.8 oz. (1213 g); left vambrace (j): H. 18 11/16 in. (47.5 cm); W. 7 5/8 in. (19.4 cm); D. 5 1/16 in. (12.9 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 6.5 oz. (1091 g); right gauntlet (k): H. 11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm); W. 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm); D. 4 in. (10.2 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 2.3 oz. (518 g); left gauntlet (l): H. 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm); W. 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm); D. 4 in. (10.2 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 3.5 oz. (552 g); right upper cuisse (thigh defense) (m): H. 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm); W. 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm); D. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 4.85 oz. (591 g); left upper cuisse (thigh defense) (n): H. 8 13/16 in. (22.4 cm); W. 7 1/16 in. (17.9 cm); D. 7 5/16 in. (18.6 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 4.85 oz. (591 g); right lower cuisse (thigh defense) and poleyn (knee defense) (o): H. 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm); W. 6 in. (15.2 cm); D. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 6.4 oz. (635 g); left lower cuisse (thigh defense) and poleyn (knee defense) (p): H. 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm); W. 5 15/16 in. (15.1 cm); D. 6 11/16 in. (17 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 6.85 oz. (647 g); right greave (lower leg defense) and sabaton (foot defense) (q): H. 18 3/4 in. (47.6 cm); W. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm); D. 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 10.7 oz. (1210 g); left greave (lower leg defense) and sabaton (foot defense) (r): H. 18 3/4 in. (47.6 cm); W. 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm); D. 12 in. (30.5 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 13.9 oz. (1300 g)
- Classification: Armor for Horse and Man
- Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1923
- Object Number: 23.261
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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