Design for the Decoration of Firearms
ca. 1797–1805
Medium
Pencil, ink, gray wash on paper
Dimensions
3 5/8 x 2 7/8 in. (6.7 x 7.3 cm)
Classification
Works on Paper-Drawings
Culture
French, Versailles
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Clay P. Bedford Gift, 2004
Accession Number
2004.101.47
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nicolas Noël Boutet, a gunsmith from Versailles, created this delicate *Design for the Decoration ofarms* around 1797–1805, the turbulent rise ofonic France. Working in pencil, ink, and gray on a modest 3 5/8 x 2 7/8-inch sheet of paper, Boutet sketched intricate ornamental patterns likely intended for luxurious firearms. These weapons were more than tools of war; they symbolized status and artistry, crafted at royal manufactories like those in Versailles, blending functionality with opulent decoration. The drawing exemplifies the Neoclassical style prevalent in late 18th-century France, wher...
About the Artist
Nicolas Noël Boutet · 1761–1833
French, Versailles and Paris, 1761–1833