Pepin, King of Gascony, from the series “The Dukes of Bavaria”

The elaborate plumed helmet with an animal-like mask visor, muscled cuirass, or breastplate, and armored skirt are all elements of ancient Roman armor as imagined by artist Jost Amman. This depiction of a somewhat mysterious figure belongs to a series of prints illustrating an unpublished history of the dukes of Bavaria. Amman’s treatment of his subjects—often in fantastical armor—corresponded to a celebratory and historicizing approach meant to reaffirm the validity of present-day rulers.