ST. LOUIS, Oct. 26, 2022—The Saint Louis Art Museum will present “Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Armory Collection at the Worcester Art Museum,” a major survey of defensive armor from Europe and around the world, from its origins in the 1300s to today.
Tickets go on sale Nov. 22 for the exhibition, which opens with a free, public opening celebration at 4 pm on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
The exhibition is organized by the Worcester Art Museum, home to the nation’s second largest collection of arms and armor.
The exhibition begins with an ancient Greek helmet and bronze sword to demonstrate armor’s long history in Europe and includes superb helmets from Japan, India and Sudan to show the universality of armor. The heart of the exhibition is in the elaborately decorated armors—including seven full suits—produced by Renaissance craftsmen in the 1500s.
“Arms and armor bring together essential crafts like metalworking with the pure artistry needed for many of the designs and decorations, ultimately creating works that can be both beautiful and functional,” said Min Jung Kim, the Barbara B. Taylor Director of the Saint Louis Art Museum. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to present these highlights from the Worcester Art Museum, and know that seeing so many rare, stunning works of armor in St. Louis will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our visitors.”
For the St. Louis presentation of this exhibition, SLAM will add examples of 21st-century defensive gear developed by the U.S. Army as well as representations of armor from Hollywood films. The exhibition also will include depictions of armor in artworks from SLAM’s collection, including paintings by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Rubens studio, prints by Albrecht Dürer and rarely exhibited Flemish tapestries.
“These custom-made fashions in steel were polished, fluted, etched, gilded, and embossed to parallel the styling of the clothing fashions of that time,” said David Conradsen, SLAM’s Grace L. Brumbaugh and Richard E. Brumbaugh Curator of Decorative Arts and Design, who is curating the St. Louis presentation of the exhibition. “We are excited to present armor in dialogue with related works in a variety of media, as well as modern creations inspired by centuries-old defensive gear.”
“Age of Armor” will remain on view through May 14, 2023. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $6 for children aged 6 to 12. The exhibition is free on Fridays and it is free anytime for museum members.
CONTACT: Matthew Hathaway, 314.655.5493, matthew.hathaway@slam.org
“‘Maximilian’” Field Armor holding a Warhammer for a Horseman”, about 1525–1530; Southern German; armor: steel, iron, and leather with modern restorations, warhammer: etched and blackened steel; 22 5/16 x 4 1/8 inches; Worcester Art Museum, The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection 2014.111 and 2014.469; Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved
Press images for 'Age of Armor'
Click on any the images in this gallery to download.
-
-
“‘Maximilian’” Field Armor holding a Warhammer for a Horseman”, about 1525–1530; Southern German; armor: steel, iron, and leather with modern restorations, warhammer: etched and blackened steel; 22 5/16 x 4 1/8 inches; Worcester Art Museum, The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection 2014.111 and 2014.469; Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved
-
-
“Target (shield) with Breech-Loading Gun”, about 1540; possibly Italian; wood, steel, tinned iron, brass and fabric with paint and modern restorations; 2 15/16 x 19 1/8 x 11 inches; Worcester Art Museum, The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection 2014.768; Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved
-
-
-
-
View 1 more
