A Knight in Shining Armor is Waiting for You at the Canadian Museum of Civilization
Hull, Quebec, 24 November 1995 - The spectacular exhibition Imperial Austria: Treasures of Art, Arms and Armor from the State of Styria will be presented at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, starting November 24, 1995 and will occupy all 12,000 square feet of the Museum's Special Exhibitions Hall until May 12, 1996. This is an invitation to travel back to the era of chivalry, when gallant knights engaged in courtly romance and deadly battles with equal fervour.
Treasures of the Austrian nation
Acclaimed in the United States during a tour of four major cities, as well as in Quebec City where it was presented at the Musée de la civilisation, the exhibition displays some 300 items, including over 50 magnificent coats of armor and an impressive protective covering worn by a knight's trusty steed. Visitors will be able to study the intricate iron sculptures that were the noblemen's armor - armor worn in tournaments, for ceremonies, and in battle; cavalry armor; upper-body armor and infantry helmets; armor for children and adolescents; as well as breastplates, helmets, coats of mail and other accessories, such as spurs and stirrups. The arms on display, which include pistols, guns, muskets, swords, halberds, lances, and shields, are also fine arts masterpieces.
The exhibition also explores the portrayal of arms and armor in the art of the era. Visitors can admire national treasures which include votive scenes, wood carvings, paintings, and engravings. Two canvases in particular merit mention: Panel from the Miraculous Altar of Mariazell (1512) and The Judgment of Paris (1515) by Lucas Cranach the Elder; so too do two sculptures, depicting St. George (circa 1520) and St. Florian. Due to the inherent fragility of these particular artworks, this exhibition represents the last time they will be seen outside of Austria.
The items, representative of the period spanning the fifteenth to the seventeenth centuries, were graciously loaned by the government of the State of Styria. A few of the works are owned by private collectors; most of them are on loan from the Steiermärkisches Landesmuseum Joanneum in Graz, stronghold of Austrian resistance at the time of the crushing defeat of the Ottomans in 1664.
A special touch
In addition, the exhibition offers visitors an artifact of especial interest: a sixteenth-century tent which once served as a troop inspection centre. Surrounding this tent is an array of armor, swords, halberds, a lightweight cannon, and a chest containing the army's pay. This part of the exhibition also includes a number of maps and a list of key figures from this period in Austrian history.
The presentation is stark yet polished. The intent was to reflect the natural surroundings of these courageous knights. This has been achieved through the use of colours reminiscent of sand and stone, and textures such as the gravel which covers the platforms. Flags and pennants rippling in the wind and military music consistent with the period add to the atmosphere.
Arms and armor follow artistic trends
The arms and armor displayed in the exhibition testify to the remarkable contribution of Austrian artists and artisans, such as Michel Witz the Younger, to the fabrication of military trappings. Visitors will witness an extraordinary display of the art and techniques of the era, complete with an overview of the social changes and technological advances that influenced the development of firearms and the gunsmith's craft. The arrival of such weapons did not, however, curb the knights' ardour for traditional adornment - a trend which began in the late fifteenth century, when the popularity of jousting tournaments served to intensify the quest for visual refinement and prestige among knights.
The exhibition Imperial Austria: Treasures of Art, Arms and Armor from the State of Styria provides visitors with an exceptional opportunity to discover a nation's treasures - treasures representative of an entire era. This exhibition was produced in Canada by the Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City.
"The stunning 'action' mountings, with their eerie visions of grand parades, jousts and bloody battles, may fire the imagination of younger people and help relate them to a time when art and craftsmanship were considered one, and of equal importance."
Byron Belt, The Times, New Jersey
"This is a show that is sure to delight young boys and grown men, along with anyone who has ever loved tales of gallant knights and chivalry... no matter how many movies you've seen or books you've read, these suits of medieval armor are far more breathtaking in real life and close up... Every one of the 300 or so pieces in this show is fascinating. Stately and evocative (thanks to period music playing in the background), Imperial Austria is well worth the visit."
Aleksi K. Lepage, La Presse, Montreal
Information (media):
Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7169
Senior Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7167
Fax: (819) 776-7187
|
|
