340 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), coats of arms (some color), facsimiles (some color), genealogical table, color map, portraits (some color), photographs; 29 cm
Summary
"Maximilan I (1459-1519) skillfully crafted a public persona and peronal mythology that eventually earned him the romantic sobriquet 'The Last Knight.' From the time he became duke of Burgundy at the age of eighteen until his death, his passion for the trappings and ideals of knighthood served his wordly ambitions, imaginative strategies, and resolute efforts to forge a legacy. A master of self-promotion, he ordered exceptional armor from the most celebrated armorers in Europe, as well as heroic autobiographical epics and lavish designs for prints. Indeed, Maximilian's quest to secure his memory and expand his sphere of influence, despite chronic shortages of funds that left many of his most ambitious projects unfinished, was indomitable. Coinciding with the 500th anniversary of Maximilian's death, this catalogue is the first to examine the masterworks he commissioned, revealing how art and armor contributed to the construction of Maximilian's identity and aspirations, and to the politics of Europe at the dawn of the Renaissance."
Catalogue published in conjunction with exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, from October 7, 2019, through January 5, 2020.
Bibliography (note)
Includes bibliographical references (pages 314-332) and index.
Language (note)
Text in English, with translations from the German.
Contents
The currency of power / Pierre Terjanian -- Political struggle and dynastic triumph / Adam B. Brandow and Matthias Pfaffenbichler -- The making of the "Last Knight" / Stefan Krause -- Catalogue -- Glossary.