The Triumphal Arch of Maximilian I: Emperor Maximilian as Patron of Improvements in Artillery and Armor

Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

Dressed in a full suit of armor, Maximilian (reigned 1486– 1519) stands among an array of helmets and weaponry. He holds a sword in one hand and a cannonball in the other, indicating both knightly skill and military power. A large sack of coins behind him alludes to his financial support of the engineers and craftsmen dedicated to the industry of war. Similar suits of armor in the Maximilian style are on view in the museum’s arms and armor court, including Maximilian’s personal suit of jousting armor. Traut created this woodcut for a monumental triumphal arch, printed with 195 woodblocks prepared by a team of printmakers. The emperor commissioned the massive print—almost 12 feet tall when assembled— to commemorate his gentility, generosity, and military conquests.

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