In different variants the martyrdom of St. Sebastian appears in the Italian art of Quattrocento and Cinquecento. In contrast real examples of crossbows, with which the shooter handles in these paintings, are rarely to be found in well-known state and private collections. Two museum objects (figs 1, 9) gave reason to have a closer look at the temporal and local definition of Italian crossbows of the Quattro- and Cinquecento, as well as at their construction and typical shape characteristics. 1. Italian crossbows with wooden bow The only real example known to the author is stored in the arms collection of the Glasgow Museums with the inv. no. E.1939.65.sn (fig. 1). Because of comparative tillers in the arms collection of the Doge's Palace Venice and in the painting by Sellaio (fig. 2) the weapon dates from the 15th century. According to the museum the length including the stirrup is 95.9 cm and the width of the weapon is 104 cm. This Italian crossbow with yew bow is an exceptionally rare example of the late medieval crossbow. 2. Italian crossbows with composite bow Since the late 12th century there are contemporary pictures showing Italian archers with composite bows in their hands. This form of reflex bow can also be found in 15th century paintings of Italian crossbows (fig. 3, 4). Starting from the middle of the 15th century the Italians transferred this elegantly curved shape to steel bows for crossbows (fig. 6). And also the double string nocks on the steel bows were most likely inspired by crossbows with horn composite bow from the 14th century. 3. Italian crossbows with steel bow Crossbows with steel bow occur in many forms in Italian paintings of the mentioned period. A real object from about 1480 1530 has been preserved in the Hofjagd- and Riistkammer of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna inv. no. A 391 (fig. 9, 10). Fig. 5 shows the typical Italian fixation for steel bows in two variants: 1 upper iron band 2 iron plate with stirrup 3 iron wedge 4 lower iron band An Italian crossbow from around 1600 (fig. 11, 12) with this bow fixation was offered in 2008 by Hermann Historica, Munic (auction no. 56, lot 626). The wedged iron plate is a practical, stable and easily detachable attachment of the steel bow to the tiller. Alternatively iron braces (like in Spain and Portugal) were used for the fixation of steel bows. A binding with threats was not common in Italy. To sum up typical Italian crossbow features in 15th / 16th century are: - Steel bow with almost square mid cross-section, recurve shape and double string nocks. In the 16th century the recurve shape and the double string nocks were old-fashioned features on steel bows of bolt shooting crossbows. - Fixation of the steel bow by an iron plate, secured by a horizontal wedge - Iron stirrup, widened in the area for the sole of the foot, showing two spikes to give a better stand on the ground during the spanning process. - One-axle nut lock, nut without iron pin or thread, which protects against falling out - Wooden Tiller with parallel sides - Heightened cheek piece at the end of the tiller - Geometric ornaments on the tiller
