Arms and armor in the Art Institute of Chicago /

Wealthy Chicagoan George F. Harding Jr. could afford the expensive hobby of collecting art and used his keen eye for medieval and Renaissance armor and weapons to do just that. The Harding collection was eventually donated to the Art Institute of Chicago, and today it is that museum's most popular holding. This volume showcases those pieces in large and lavish photos and illustrations within a layout that is inviting and balanced. In his accompanying text, Karcheski, the curator of arms and armor at the Higgins Armory Museum, puts these examples and the general subject of medieval armor and weapons into context for the general reader. Though highly readable and inviting, the lack of an index and bibliography drastically limits the book's research value. Recommended only for large public libraries.-Karen Ellis, Baldwin Boettcher Lib., Humble, Tex. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.