Germany, Nuremberg / c. 1550
Breastplate
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Breastplate as arms and armor (Germany, Nuremberg · c. 1550).
Engraving is one of the oldest techniques for decorating metal objects; here the artist used a sharp instrument to scratch the design into the surface.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this arms and armor as steel with etched figure kneeling before Crucifixion.
The museum's collection notes: This breastplate, lacking its tassets, is nonetheless a fine example of the superb sculptural forms achieved by Renaissance armorers. Its contours and glancing surface illustrate the extremes sought by both armorers and patrons in order to deflect projectiles such as crossbow bolts and thrusting lances. Embellishment was an important aspect of fine armor. This breastplate bears a fine etched decoration of a kneeling knight, possibly the armor's owner, before the Crucifixion. This may have created a kind of personalized devotional image for use in combat.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtBreastplateOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.