German and Italian Swords and Helmets, Antique Print, 1851

This is an original antique chromolithograph, printed in colors, from Le Moyen Âge et la Renaissance, lettered "1. XVIe Siècle, ROUELLE ALLEMANDE. 2. XVIe Siècle, ROUELLE ITALIENNE. 3. XIVe Siècle, CASQUE. 4. XVIe Siècle, CASQUE. (Collection de M. le Prince Soltykoff, à Paris)". The two pieces lettered as rouelles are swords, shown hilt up. At the left, the German sword has a steel hilt with a bearded mask pommel, curved guards ending in grotesque heads and a fluted blade. At the right, the Italian sword has a dark hilt damascened in gold and set with oval portrait cameos on the pommel, grip and S-curved guard. Between them, at the top, is a flat topped helmet of the fourteenth century with a hinged opening, and below a close helmet with a pointed visor, etched with a lozenge pattern and edged with gilt rivets.

The running heads read "LE MOYEN-AGE ET LA RENAISSANCE." and "ARMURERIE." Beneath the image are the credits "A. Rivaud del.", "Chromolith. Lemercier, r. de Seine 57, Paris." and "Kellerhoven lith.", and below the caption "F. Séré direxit". The caption translates as: 1, sixteenth century, German rouelle. 2, sixteenth century, Italian rouelle. 3, fourteenth century, helmet. 4, sixteenth century, helmet. (Collection of Prince Soltykoff, in Paris.)

Le Moyen Âge et la Renaissance was published in Paris in five volumes between 1848 and 1851. Paul Lacroix, who also wrote as the Bibliophile Jacob, edited the text, and Ferdinand Séré directed the illustrations, which is what the line "F. Séré direxit" on the plates records. The work surveys the customs, trades, sciences, arts and literature of Europe from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Its arms and armor plates appear under the running head "ARMURERIE" and draw on collections such as that of Prince Soltykoff in Paris. The plates are chromolithographs, printed in color from a series of stones rather than colored by hand. This plate comes from the fourth volume, issued in 1851.

The two decorated hilts frame the helmets symmetrically, which makes the plate a balanced picture on its own.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.