Armed and Dangerous

The Art Institute of Chicago has a pretty impressive collection. You wouldn't think that a city renowned more for its Arctic windchill, crazed sports fans and cultural tensions would also be so artsy, hey? There was a lot to love about the AIC when I visited but one of my favorite bits was the Arms, Armor, Medieval, and Renaissance section. I can see an entire collection of edgyy, urban tailored pieces coming out of this:

Zischagge, c. 1650

Portions of an Armor for Field and Tilt, c.1590

Tilting Visor and Bevor, 1580

Cuirass, c. 1605

Comb Morion of the State Guard of Christian I or II, Elector of Saxony, c. 1580

(Sidenote: If you visit Chicago, be sure to also go on the Chicago Architecture Foundation's walking tour of the city...Just don't do it when it's subzero temperatures, like I did. It was the closest I ever got to frostbite, I swear.)

Photo credits: http://www.artic.edu