id:			96082
accession number:	1916.1816.f
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1816.f
updated:		2023-06-29 00:07:43.351000

Backplate, c. 1575. North Italy, Brescia (?), 16th century. Steel with etched decorative bands and roundels; overall: 37 x 35 x 16.7 cm (14 9/16 x 13 3/4 x 6 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1816.f

title:				Backplate
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			c. 1575
creation date earliest:		1570
creation date latest:		1580
current location:		210A Armor Court
creditline:			Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
copyright:			

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culture:	North Italy, Brescia (?), 16th century
technique:	steel with etched decorative bands and roundels
department:	Medieval Art
collection:	MED - Arms & Armor
type:		Arms and Armor
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Overall: 37 x 35 x 16.7 cm (14 9/16 x 13 3/4 x 6 9/16 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:

	description:	etched decorative bands and roundels ("Pisan" style)
	watermarks:	

inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

	Duc d'Osuna; Frank Gair Macomber, Boston, cat. # 155.
	date: 
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact:


digital description:


wall description:
Decoration was critical to fine armor, and etching was the most commonly used technique. Here, the bands along the borders are etched. On the breastplate, pauldrons (shoulder guards), and tassets (hip and upper leg guards), etched medallions enclose profile busts reminiscent of ancient Roman portraits. The lance rest on the breastplate indicates that this half-suit was once part of a complete field armor for man and horse. The etching technique used for armor was developed in the late 1400s. The metal surface was first coated with an acid-resistant substance, such as wax or varnish. An etching needle was then used to scratch a design into the surface. The exposed areas were then treated with an acid that would "bite" or etch the lines into the metal. When the coating was removed, the etched design was blackened for contrast.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

	<em>Catalogue of Arms and Armour</em>. Vol. 3, <em>16th century</em>. [Boston, Massachusetts]: [Frank Gair Macomber], [1900-1915].
	page number: 	Mentioned: No. (155) 158
	url:		https://archive.org/details/CatArmsArmour3_201602/page/n273

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IMAGES