Spanish Royal Armor, Portraits, Tapestries At Washington’s National Gallery
For first time ever, magnificent Spanish royal armor will be shown alongside Old Masters’ portraits of Spanish emperors, kings and their horses wearing the regalia that dates back to the time of Columbus.
Washington’s National Gallery of Art perfectly named the exhibition (June 28 through November 1) “The Art of Power: Royal Armor and Portraits from Imperial Spain”.
Armor is an extraordinarily exquisite art form, a sort of wearable sculpture. Great artists such as Albrecht Dürer drew designs that were elaborately etched, engraved, or embossed on armor.
The portraits of armor-clad rulers are by Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velázquez, Anthony van Dyck, among other masters. And of course, Spain built one of the world’s most powerful empires ever, from late 15th century into the 18th century.
Also, royal armor and such portraits enhanced and exalted rulers' power and chivalric image, so-called “gods in uniform”. This dazzlingly ornate armor was used less for military purposes than for parades, pageants, jousting tournaments, and other Renaissance rituals.
Armor enhanced the power and image also of diplomats who presented these hugely expensive, prized gifts to Spanish rulers. Talk about influence-peddling -- a full suit of armor could “cost the equivalent of today’s executive jet”, said exhibition curator Alvaro Soler del Campo, Director of Madrid’s Spanish Royal Armory.
Read complete article in Examiner.com
Washington’s National Gallery of Art perfectly named the exhibition (June 28 through November 1) “The Art of Power: Royal Armor and Portraits from Imperial Spain”.
Armor is an extraordinarily exquisite art form, a sort of wearable sculpture. Great artists such as Albrecht Dürer drew designs that were elaborately etched, engraved, or embossed on armor.
The portraits of armor-clad rulers are by Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velázquez, Anthony van Dyck, among other masters. And of course, Spain built one of the world’s most powerful empires ever, from late 15th century into the 18th century.
Also, royal armor and such portraits enhanced and exalted rulers' power and chivalric image, so-called “gods in uniform”. This dazzlingly ornate armor was used less for military purposes than for parades, pageants, jousting tournaments, and other Renaissance rituals.
Armor enhanced the power and image also of diplomats who presented these hugely expensive, prized gifts to Spanish rulers. Talk about influence-peddling -- a full suit of armor could “cost the equivalent of today’s executive jet”, said exhibition curator Alvaro Soler del Campo, Director of Madrid’s Spanish Royal Armory.
Read complete article in Examiner.com
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