Designs for the Decoration of Firearms
ca. 1797–1805
Medium
Pencil, ink, gray wash on paper
Dimensions
2 1/4 x 2 in. (5.7 x 5.1 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
2004.101.57
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan of Art's Arms and Armor Department, *Designs for the Decoration of Firearms by Nicolas Noël Boutet a glimpse into the opulent world of French arms manufacturing during the Napoleonic era. Created around 1797–1805 at the Manufacture royale de Versailles—where Boutet served as—these tiny pencil, ink, and gray wash (just 2¼ x 2 inches) served as precise blueprints for embellishing luxury firearms. Versailles was renowned for crafting exquisite guns for royalty and high-ranking military officers, blending deadly function with artistic splendor. The designs feature bold...
About the Artist
Nicolas Noël Boutet · 1761–1833
French, Versailles and Paris, 1761–1833