Leather Armor? (NO HOLDS BARRED!!)

[tlclark]

Some depictions of armour are flexible purely so that the artist can render the subject in a specific pose. This is especially evident in Renaissance art when the artist is attempting to depict an armoured character in a classical pose. Some poses are not possible in rigid armour so artistic license is necessary.

True, but the variation of poses in the Renaissance is far greater than in the Roman period. Also, there is more variation in pose in the later period than in the earlier periods. So style gets to be a really big thorny problem after the antonine period.

If I was only looking at cuirasses on figures, I would concede this point, (and be a lot happier frankly!) but I have those damned frustrating floppy cuirasses thrown over tree stumps!! Like John Adams said "Facts are stubborn things"