Under the aegis of Mars
The 16th century witnessed the birth of the Mannerist movement after the death of Raphael in 1520. It was a period of complex and exuberant compositions, painted in an affected style, which extolled beauty, portrayed fantastical animals and used improbable and sinuous lines. The tastes of the time dictated the art of armour. Armourers, goldsmiths and engravers were inspired to produce lavish pieces by the designs of the painter, Jean Cousin the Elder (1490-1560) and the engraver and goldsmith Etienne Delaune (1519-1583), and by the ornamental repertoire of the gallery of François I at the Palace of Fontainebleau. The "French Manner" thus spread across Central and Northern Europe, thanks largely to the Antwerp workshops (illustrated by the work of Eliseus Libaerts). It was a vibrant art form that created sumptuous finery, in keeping with the glory and prestige of its owners.
