Shield 1510 - 1560

Editor: Here we have a bronze shield, relief-carved between 1510 and 1560, made by Girolamo da Treviso. It’s at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The craftsmanship is so detailed, almost impossibly so for something intended for battle. What strikes you first about this piece? Curator: Formally, the concentric nature of the relief demands immediate attention. The circular composition invites the eye to travel around the scene. The layering of figures creates a dynamic sense of depth, although contained within the two-dimensional plane of the shield. What does the medium—bronze—communicate to you? Editor: I suppose it suggests strength and resilience, which seems appropriate for a shield. But it's also… well, cold? How does that material choice interact with the overall design, the figuration especially? Curator: Consider how the artist plays with light and shadow using relief. The high points catch the light, while the recesses create depth and definition. This chiaroscuro effect heightens the drama of the narrative, pulling figures forward and pushing others back, creating a sophisticated visual rhythm. Do you find the artist creates depth, or a flattening? Editor: Both, somehow. The sheer number of figures gives the illusion of depth, but the limited palette and shallow relief keeps it fairly contained, which lends the artwork the tension you mention. What does that tension between flatness and depth suggest? Curator: Perhaps it reinforces the dual purpose of the object itself – both functional armour and a surface for artistic expression. The tension enlivens the object, encouraging deeper aesthetic engagement. Editor: That is very helpful, seeing the piece through the relationship between form and function! Curator: Indeed, and through the sophisticated use of bronze and space.