Iron Men: Fashion in Steel

Bringing together some of the most spectacular examples of European Renaissance armour from museum collections worldwide – as well as rarely exhibited highlights from the Imperial Armoury in Vienna – this large-scale exhibition of 170 objects at the Kunsthistorisches Museum (29 March–26 June) promises to shed new light on the role played by armourers in the culture of the Renaissance. Shields, helmets and full suits of armour are displayed alongside paintings, textiles and sculptures to argue that armour was by no means merely functional, but played an important role in the creation of cultural identity. Highlights include a 16th-century Milanese burgonet in the shape of a lion’s head, and items from the Habsburg Archduke Ferdinand II’s famous ‘Eagle Garniture’ – including a helmet topped with a voluminous red plume. Find out more from the Kunsthistorisches Museum website. 

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Landsknecht Harness for Wilhelm von Rogendorf Kolman Helmschmid, Augsburg (c. 1523), Courtesy: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Imperial Armoury. Photo: © KHM-Museumsverband 

Cuirass from the Eagle Garniture made for Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria Jörg Seusenhofer, Innsbruck (c. 1547), Courtesy Kunsthistorisches Museum, Imperial Armoury. Photo: © KHM-Museumsverband

All’antica burgonet with a visor in the shape of a lion’s head (c. 1550 – 55), Courtesy: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Imperial Armoury. Photo: © KHM-Museumsverband