Ideowa wymowa ozdób armatnich z przełomu XVI i XVII wieku

Abstract

The article takes up the issue of military education at the turn of the XVI and XVII centuries. It points to works of art as a factor influencing the process of shaping the desired attitudes among soldiers, contrary to the previous approach which focused on the role of punishments and awards. Cannons, the commonly available and esteemed objects in the army, served as the subject of research. Several groups of ornaments have been distinguished based on the effect they had on soldiers. These include coats of arms, inscriptions, maxims, reliefs and names. Each of these groups, in different ways, could stimulate the development of proper attitudes. However, it is necessary to emphasize that such an influence was only possible in the case of uncorrupt soldiers and could only serve as a supplement to their educational processes. An analysis of this problem allows us to take a different look at cannon ornaments, which have been considered by contemporary historians to be an unnecessary element which only raised the price of the weapon.