{"id":40951,"date":"2022-02-11T05:52:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T04:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=40951"},"modified":"2024-12-13T11:24:17","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T10:24:17","slug":"iron-men-exhibition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/khm\/iron-men-exhibition\/","title":{"rendered":"Iron Men exhibition"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/ironmensmall.jpg\" alt=\"Steel helmet\" class=\"wp-image-40952\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/ironmensmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/ironmensmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Hollywood might give the impression that armour of old served a purely functional purpose. The <em>Iron Men<\/em> exhibition at the Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM) demonstrates that the reality is more complicated (and beautiful).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Explores the art, culture, and wider role of renaissance armour<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Also takes you through mechanics like how it was made (and worn)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Around 170 objects in total<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Runs Mar 29 &#8211; Jun 26, 2022<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/khm\/overview\/\">Kunsthistorisches Museum overview &amp; info<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/exhibitions\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"37363\">Art exhibitions<\/a> in Vienna<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fashion-in-steel\">Fashion in Steel<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"344\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/harness.jpg\" alt=\"Landsknecht Harness for Wilhelm von Rogendorf \u00a9 KHM-Museumsverband\" class=\"wp-image-40953\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/harness.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/harness-300x206.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Landsknecht Harness for Wilhelm von Rogendorf; Kolman Helmschmid, Augsburg, 1523; Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Imperial Armoury; \u00a9 KHM-Museumsverband)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rivulets of blood running down unadorned steel dominate many screen representations of armour in the days of swords, shields, and poor sanitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet once you think of armour as clothing, the idea that it did little more than protect the wearer seems intrinsically illogical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just as we might wear different clothes for work, leisure and festivities, so it was with armour. Albeit only among those who could afford it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kunsthistorisches Museum&#8217;s exhibition sheds light on the more artistic and cultural aspects of renaissance armour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Iron Men<\/em> explains armour&#8217;s role in communicating political and dynastic power. Armour as a gift in European diplomacy. Armour as an expression of personality. And armour as a fashion statement made in custom steel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The kind of extraordinarily decorative and rare breastplates and similar that might illustrate such concepts can be hard to come by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately for us, the museum can draw on its own astonishing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/khm\/imperial-armoury\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"9269\">Hofjagd und R\u00fcstkammer collection<\/a> (a treasure trove of ceremonial and tournament armour) along with loan objects from other prestigious institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The craftsmanship on display demonstrates that renaissance genius found expression on more than just paper and canvas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Iron Men<\/em> also looks a little at the mechanics of armour manufacture and use, even down to the role of undergarments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A trip round the exhibition also throws up little unexpected revelations. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do you imagine ladies handed over small silk handkerchiefs as tokens for knights to carry on their tournament lances? A small display case demonstrates that these &#8220;faveurs&#8221; involved far more elaborate fabric-based designs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Most armour was neither particularly heavy or inflexible, as demonstrated by a lively video of an armoured man doing star jumps, climbing ladders and even performing dance moves. The image of a knight floundering on his back like an upturned fly seems largely to be a myth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Even armoured monarchs cannot deny their humanity: many an armour fit badly thanks to its purchaser eating one too many roast hogs after the order went in.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The exhibition ends in a shop with toys, models, books and other items. I was THIS close to buying a sword-shaped cheese grater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tickets-dates\">Tickets, dates &amp; tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Enjoy the skills of renaissance artisans and engravers from March 29th to June 26th, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You need an entrance ticket for the museum, of course, but <em>Iron Men<\/em> also requires an extra \u20ac3 ticket with an allocated timeslot for when you can go into the exhibition (you can stay as long as you like).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Purchase your timeslot direct from the museum (either online or on site: from a ticket counter or at the entrance to the exhibition area). I visited on a Tuesday morning in April and got a timeslot for immediate entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once outside, consider crossing over the road to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/neue-burg\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1493\">Neue Burg wing<\/a> of the Hofburg complex to visit the Imperial Armoury mentioned earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the Kunsthistorisches Museum has numerous other examples of impressive renaissance art. Try the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/khm\/bruegel-collection\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"18166\">Bruegel gallery <\/a>next to the exhibition space, for example. Or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/khm\/kunstkammer\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1489\">Kunstkammer<\/a> chamber of wonders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-get-to-the-armour\">How to get to the armour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>See the main <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/khm\/overview\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1446\">Kunsthistorisches Museum article<\/a> for travel tips. Once inside, go up to the floor with the picture galleries to find the <em>Iron Men<\/em> exhibition<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1Ls0bHnAFYwdqHpA-vPBaMhgV1Fw\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hollywood might give the impression that armour of old served a purely functional purpose. The Iron Men exhibition at the Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM) demonstrates that the reality is more complicated (and beautiful). Fashion in Steel (Landsknecht Harness for Wilhelm von Rogendorf; Kolman Helmschmid, Augsburg, 1523; Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Imperial Armoury; \u00a9 KHM-Museumsverband) Rivulets of blood [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40952,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-40951","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-khm","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40951","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40951"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40951\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":78496,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40951\/revisions\/78496"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}