An accessible and beautifully illustrated introduction to armor used in battles, tournaments, and ceremonies. This engaging book offers an introduction and overview of armor in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 17th century, with a particular focus on the 16th century when decorative armor reached the peak of artistic beauty and functional perfection. Created by highly skilled armories, often in collaboration with renowned artists and funded by wealthy patrons, armor was worn for centuries on the battlefield, in festive tournaments, and during ceremonies.

Through informative discussions of representative works from the famous collection of the Metropolitan Museum, this new addition to the popular "How to Read" series shows how to examine armor, the pieces that make up a typical suit of armor, how the various parts function, the different methods of decorating armor, and how armor has become an important part of many museum collections today.

The book includes a wealth of new photography of historically significant armor and other artworks from the Metropolitan Museum and selected pieces from other institutions.

• Pages: 160
• Publication Year: 0926
• Dimensions: 20.3x20.3cm