‘The Last Knight’ showcases over 180 objects from the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, an early master of political propaganda—and whose armor fashionably showed his ruthlessness.

A look at one pair of Maximilian’s shoes suggests how challenging that might be. The shoes, on a suit of steel armor from 1480, are narrow and come to a long sharp point, like a wasp’s stinger.

Dressed in a full suit of armor, Maximilian (reigned 1486– 1519) stands among an array of helmets and weaponry. He holds a sword in one hand and a cannonball in the other, indicating both knightly ...

An exhibition explores themes important to Emperor Maximilian’s life and career, especially his love of armor as a craft and as a symbol of the knightly valor with which he wished to be identified.

"The Last Knight," Emperor Maximilian I (1459–1519). “Epic” has become a grand colloquialism for almost anything particularly impressive or outstanding.

Most of the elements of this armor were made together, forming a single suit. The lower legs contain some modern restorations. The helmet is believed to be the work of the esteemed Augsburg armorer, ...