Parade Partisan (from the Bodyguard of August Wilhelm, Duke of Brunswick- Wolfenbüttel [1662-1731])

1718
Overall: 258.5 cm (101 3/4 in.)
Weight: 3.69 kg (8.14 lbs.)
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Download, Print and Share

Did You Know?

Partisans were popular weapons before firearms.

Description

The halberd and partisan are hafted weapons highly favored by European infantries of the 1500s and 1600s for their great versatility and deadly effect. From about 1550 on, these weapons underwent significant changes as they gradually became more ornamental. The large flat surfaces of the blades lent themselves to engraving, etching, gilding, and other forms of decoration. They also provided the perfect location for the coats of arms of princely or noble families. For this reason, hafted weapons became the favored parade weapons of palace guards and splendidly outfitted special regiments of princely bodyguards. These examples, made for the German dukes of Brunswick at Schloss Blankenburg, still have their silk tassels in their original colors of blue and yellow.
Parade Partisan (from the Bodyguard of August Wilhelm, Duke of Brunswick- Wolfenbüttel [1662-1731])

Parade Partisan (from the Bodyguard of August Wilhelm, Duke of Brunswick- Wolfenbüttel [1662-1731])

1718

Germany, 18th century

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.