Design for the Decoration of the Side Plate of a Firearm
ca. 1797–1805
Medium
Pencil, ink, gray wash on paper
Dimensions
2 3/4 x 6 1/4 in. (7 x 15.9 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
2004.101.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nicolas Noël Boutet, a celebrated French gunsmith and director of the imperial arms manufactory at Versailles, created this delicate design around 1797–1805. At a time when firearms served not only as weapons but also as symbols of status and artistry, Boutet’s workshop produced exquisitely ornamented pieces for Napoleon’s court and high-ranking officers. This small drawing, measuring just 2¾ by 6¼ inches, captures the preparatory stage of that luxurious tradition. Executed in pencil, ink, and gray wash, the sheet reveals the careful planning behind the side plate decoration of a firearm. Suc...
About the Artist
Nicolas Noël Boutet · 1761–1833
French, Versailles and Paris, 1761–1833