The Arms of Habsberg Flanked by an Elegant Couple

The Swiss artist Daniel Lindtmayer primarily made designs for stained-glass panels, a thriving luxury trade during the Renaissance. A typical example of this decorative genre, this drawing showcases a coat of arms likely commissioned for a member of the noble Habsburg family. The scribbled notes in the center of the drawing specify the color of the glass to be used, and the note in the cartouche below mentions a Habsburg defeat. A battle scene at the top seemingly pits the Habsburgs against the retreating Ottoman Turks, a likely reference to the intensifying Balkan-area border hostilities, which continued into the 17th century.