Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/261

 We have already discussed this theory of Herr Boeheim (vol. iii, page 294). Giovanni Battista Serabaglio belonged to the famous Busti family of Milan, another member of which, Agostino Busti, sculptured the well-known effigy of Gaston de Foix. But to revert to the rondache in question. Although a very beautiful piece of steelwork from a decorative point of view, it must be regarded as over-elaborated and confused, the various strapwork panels containing the figure subjects intertwined one with the other in a somewhat needlessly geometrical fashion. The quality of the azzimina damascening is, however, very remarkable. Etched in the Pisan manner. About 1580. Wallace Collection (Laking Catalogue, No. 694)    Etched in the Pisan manner. About 1580. Collection: Mr. S. J. Whawell Naturally all parade shields were not of equal richness; some only relied for their surface ornaments on ordinary aqua fortis etching in the so-called Pisan manner. Of these we give two illustrations representing the more usual type of North Italian workmanship of about 1580 (Figs. 1304 and 1305); while others that come under the same provenance but are more elaborately engraved, we select from the work of Geronimo Spacini of Milan and Bologna (Fig. 1306). Sir Samuel Meyrick, whose collection contained the shield we are referring to, described it as the target of Charles V, doubtless on account of the subjects depicted on it. It is, however, of considerably later date, for the style of its workmanship belongs to the last quarter of the XVIth century. All our personal efforts to find any records of this shield have been unfruitful. The subjects are not rendered by means of aqua fortis