Tourist Guide

Gilded Armor

Prior to my last visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the last time I visited this museum must have been several years ago. This made my trip around the museum and its many sections seem almost new and original. Although I enjoyed quite a lot of the exhibits, the first to truly catch my attention was the Etched and Gilded Armor thought to have been made for Henry VIII in 1527 by Hans Holbein the Younger. My father is an avid collector of different weapons and armor from this time period and he successfully passed this interest on to me. The first thing I noticed about this suit of armor is the fact that it is completely coated in gold. As equipment for battle, where a soldier can die at any moment, I found it interesting that it would be made with such valuable material and with such precision to detail. After reading the description and realizing that this suit may have belonged to a king however, this made complete sense. According to the description, it might have been made for a simple presentation for the French ambassador François de La Tour d’Auvergne. I was also amazed at the sheer weight of the armor. Many soldiers wore similar armor during this time period, and even though it provides ample protection from the blows of his foes, it also requires a huge amount of strength and endurance to wear and be mobile in.