KNIGHTS AND ARMOR FAMILY GALLERY GUIDE
Meet a Knight in Shining Armor! Guide location: Galleries P7 & P8, Plaza level, Nelson-Atkins Building
Welcome to the medieval and
Renaissance Galleries where you will meet a knight from the Middle Ages and design your own family coat of arms. The Middle Ages and Renaissance periods happened in Western Europe from the 10–16th centuries. This era was filled with tales of heraldry, brave knights and nasty dragons.
What is a Knight?
Knights were European warriors. They rode horses and protected the ruler, land and other people. Can you think of people today who are protectors? (family, friends, soldiers, police officers, etc.)
At Home Activity Learn more about the art in this guide by following the links provided with each object. nelson-atkins.org/SaintsGeorgeAndWolfgang
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Detail from Saints George and Wolfgang
Saint George and the Dragon
nelson-atkins.org/SaintGeorgeAndDragon
What about Dragons? One popular story during medieval and
Renaissance times told of a knight, Saint George, who battled and defeated a fire-breathing dragon. Look at the carved relief sculpture located in P8 (pictured above). What visual clues did the artist carve to let you know how victory was won?
Saint George and the Dragon
The legend of Saint George, first told in the 13th century, describes a knight who saved a princess from a dragon. It represents the triumph of good over evil.
Can you find a wood sculpture of Saint George and the dragon in gallery P8?
(HINT: He’s wearing red shoes.)
Look for the painting nearby, Saints George and Wolfgang in gallery P7. Although the dragon from this tale is considered evil, in East Asia dragons often represent good luck. After you tally the number of medieval dragons you can spot near by, visit Level 2 of this building and find more dragons in the Chinese galleries.
My Dragon Count
Evil Dragons
Good Dragons
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What is Armor? Knights (and their horses too!) wore metal suits called armor to protect themselves in battle and jousting tournaments, which were popular sporting events of that time. Each piece of armor fit together in custom pieces on the body.
Parts of Armor
Can you identify each piece of armor on the knight in the gallery? How is the horse’s armor similar to the knight’s?
Crest
Lance rest A piece of metal
Helmet A form of
Gauntlet Gloves that cover
A decorative component of a coat of arms attached to the top of the helmet. protective gear worn to shield the head from injuries.
Gorget A steel collar
to protect and cover the neck.
Breastplate A device
attached to the right side of the breast plate, meant to hold a lance.
the fingers and forearms.
Tassets A piece of plate
armor which hangs from the breastplate to protect the upper legs.
Cuisse
A plate that covers the thighs.
worn over the torso to protect it from injury.
Imagine you are a knight wearing a suit of armor.
How does it feel?
How heavy was the armor? Armor usually
weighed 45–60 pounds, had many parts connected by leather, and often required a servant’s help to put on! Helmets weighed 4–8 pounds.
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Crest Helmet Gorget
Breastplate Behind the shield:
Lance rest Gauntlet Tassets Cuisse
How were knights trained? Age 7 Apprentice Boys developed horsemanship skills, weaponry skills and established an intense fitness routine.
Age 14 Page to Squire The young men learned how to fight in battle and had to develop superb bravery. Training courses were developed to simulate the battlefield.
Age 18 and up Squire to Knight By the end of the squire stage, the young boys had matured into young men ready to be knights and weather the hardships of warfare. Armor for Man and Horse (detail) nelson-atkins.org/Armor Mobile Guide #901
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What is a Symbol? As shown below, symbols are a shape or picture
that is used to communicate. Symbols were especially important during Medieval times because many people could not read.
Fleur de Lis = Purity, light and life Rose = Hope and joy Lion = Symbol of the king, strength, pride, courage and protection
Dragon = In Western European stories, symbol of evil and the guardian of treasure. Sometimes it meant valor and protection. Sun = Glory
Can you find these five symbols in the galleries P7 and P8?
Fleur de Lis
Rose
Lions
Dragon
Sun
What is a Coat of Arms?
Knights wore coats of arms, unique combinations of colors, shapes and symbols that identified them when they were wearing armor. This system was called heraldry because the herald, or tournament announcer, distinguished the knights at a tournament according to their coats of arms.
Coat of Arms or Escutcheon nelson-atkins.org/CoatOfArms
Can you find a limestone
coat of arms with dual lions? (HINT: Look UP!)
Can you think of any sport
teams today whose players wear colors and symbols in order to be recognizable?
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Wealthy noblemen used coats of arms to show their family’s importance. Each person had their own individual element such as a design, pattern, or symbol in the family coats of arms. Today, in England, the royal family still uses their coat of arms!
List them here:
My Family Coat of Arms Create your own coat of arms. Choose from the symbols on previous pages or design your own.
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45th & Oak, Kansas City, Missouri nelson-atkins.org 816.751.1ART
Keep exploring with these books recommended by the
Kansas City Public Library.
GREAT STORIES ABOUT KNIGHTS For Younger Readers Brave Young Knight by Karen Kingsbury, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Night Knight by Owen Davey The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke For Older Readers The Badger Knight by Kathryn Erskine
The Knights of the Kitchen Table (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith Sir Gawain and the Green Knight retold by Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman
Connect to the Mobile Guide for more family fun! Check out a FREE mobile device at the Bloch Lobby Info Desk or use your own. Start your mobile tour at naguide.org. Visit nelson-atkins.org for updates about art classes, festivals and hands-on activities for families and children.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ARMOR Knight (DK Eyewitness Book) by Christopher Gravett Knights in Shining Armor by Gail Gibbons You Wouldn’t Want to be a Medieval Knight!: Armor You’d Rather Not Wear by Fiona MacDonald, David Salariya and David Antram
LEARN MORE ABOUT SYMBOLS If Maps Could Talk: Using Symbols and Keys by Erika L. Shores National Geographic Kids Everything Castles: Capture These Facts, Photos and Fun to Be King of the Castle by Crispin Boyer Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who?: The Stories Behind Some of America’s Patriotic Symbols by Teresa Bateman and John O’Brien
Keep going! Find other Family Gallery Guides with more interactive activities wherever you see this icon.