Arms and Armor in the works of Albrecht Dürer

[shayde78]

The next few are from a series depicting the Passion of Christ.
In order below:

"Christ Before Caliphas", 1512
Good depiction of pole arms, similar to some I highlighted in the Nuremberg Chronicle.

"Christ Before Pilate", 1512
Interesting swords, pole arms, but also a neat looking war hammer

"Flagellation", 1512
Sword hilt, forward curved quillions

"Christ Crowned with Thorns", 1512
A rondel dagger on the kneeling figure's hip

"Ecce Homo", 1512
Bullock dagger at hip

"Pilate Washing his Hands", 1512
Pole arms in background

"Bearing of the Cross", 1512
Similar to the earlier image of the three peasants, notice the damaged scabbard. A sign of disdain? A common occurrence among the poorer classes?
Also, some pole arms, and a holy water spinkler mace head in the background?

"Resurrection", 1512
Pole arm, war hammer

[shayde78]

"Knight, Death, and the Devil", 1513
One of the more well known of Durer's work, and one that has been posted more than once elsewhere on this forum. Good detail on the sword, armor, horse's tack, etc. A well executed piece, all around.

[shayde78]

"St. Thomas", 1514

[shayde78]

"Peasant Couple Dancing", 1514
I like these rustic scenes! It is subtle, but the knife at the woman's hip is interesting since we often see folks on this forum ask, could this be a woman's knife? Seems the woman's knife here is of the same proportions as others the artist has etched.

[shayde78]

"Bagpiper", 1514

Short sword on a Highlander's hip? I'm guessing bagpipes weren't limited to north of Hadrian's Wall.

[shayde78]

"Agony in the Garden", 1515
Reinterpretation of the scene, with a different sword depicted.

[shayde78]

"Landscape with Cannon", 1518
The cannon is decorated with the coat of arms of Nuremberg. It is believed to be the weapon that gave Emperor Maximillian I superior firepower over the Turks. It is not known if the Turk depicted is a prisoner or an ambassador. Durer used his own likeness as the head of the Turk.

[Philip]

Originally Posted by shayde78

"Bagpiper", 1514

Short sword on a Highlander's hip? I'm guessing bagpipes weren't limited to north of Hadrian's Wall.

Yes, you are spot on. The bagpipes, thought to be a legacy of the great Celtic migrations across Europe BCE, were a popular instrument, particularly among the common folk, across the Continent. In Germany they are known as the Düdelsack, in Italy, zampogna.

One of my most vivid memories of Spain was a trip, decades ago, to attend the Fiesta de Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, the northwest corner of the country which has been a Celtic cultural stronghold for centuries. Never conquered by the Romans nor the Moors... The gaita gallega is the traditional instrument there, mouth-blown like the Scots Highland piob-mor though somewhat smaller and with fewer drone pipes, played by bands marching through the streets with drums, around the Cathedral.

An interesting thing, archaeologically, is the discovery of numerous stone boars in that region and in northern Portugal -- worshiped by the pre-Christian Celt-Iberian inhabitants as symbols of courage, much as did the Celts who fought the Romans, blowing their war-trumpets made of bronze, fashioned with open tusked boars' mouths instead of a funnel shape.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Philip

... Yes, you are spot on. The bagpipes, thought to be a legacy of the great Celtic migrations across Europe BCE, were a popular instrument, particularly among the common folk, across the Continent...

Apparently now evidenced as being an earlier instrument, in all its variants, according to those who claim the "Celtic myth", after finding that bagpipes developed their own distinct path, as early as cited in Biblic texts (Prophet Daniel, circa 600 BC.).

Originally Posted by Philip

... In Germany they are known as the Düdelsack, in Italy, zampogna.

Not forgetting the Swedish säckpipa, for another ... also probably not so early.

Originally Posted by Philip

... of my most vivid memories of Spain was a trip, decades ago, to attend the Fiesta de Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, the northwest corner of the country which has been a Celtic cultural stronghold for centuries. Never conquered by the Romans nor the Moors... The gaita gallega is the traditional instrument there, mouth-blown like the Scots Highland piob-mor though somewhat smaller and with fewer drone pipes, played by bands marching through the streets with drums, around the Cathedral ...

As you unfortunately missed our gathering over here a few months ago, Filipe, you had no opportunity to check on "gaitas de foles" also playing in Portugal, some even in regions distant from Galician lands, these in slighly different variants .

[Jim McDougall]

In post #1, this Durer engraving depicts as titled, five landsknechts and an oriental.
The landsknechts were actually German mercenaries who used Swiss fighting methods and arms from the latter 15th century. The most discernible weapon is the 'halberd' poleaxe here.

It is curious why the 'oriental' person is included here, but it seems that Durer was profoundly influenced by Italian Renaissance art. Attached is a painting of Mehmed II by Bellini from 1480 (note the addition of the crowns in background reflecting the same conventions of these addendums in Durer's work).
Durer had traveled to Italy in 1494 just as the Italian wars were beginning and surely saw the forces involved assembled at places.

It seems that Renaissance artists had a fascination with 'oriental' figures, which Durer adopted as well. He added an oriental figure to his own coat of arms, and this affectation seems a sort of 'exotica' which he seems to have been drawn to.

The weapon most discernible here is the Swiss halberd held by the figure at far right. The hook at the back of the axe head was to pull a rider from his horse.

[Jim McDougall]

This work from post #33 here, is intriguing as the hilt style is noted.

What is remarkable here is that this hilt style appears to be of the 'karabela' form, which did not become known until around 17th century in Poland and Hungary. It is believed that the style was adopted from Ottoman sabers, but their exact origins and when they were used remains unclear.
Here it is remarkable to see this hilt style in this work of 1519, well over a century before it became known in Eastern Europe.

Again, it would seem the attraction to 'oriental' (i.e. Ottoman) imagery is apparent.