Engraving of Firearms Ornament
1693 or 1695
Medium
Ink on paper
Dimensions
8 1/2 x 6 5/16 in. (21.8 x 16.2 cm)
Classification
Works on Paper-Prints
Culture
French
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, funds from various donors, by exchange, 2007
Accession Number
2007.324
Art Historical Context
In the late 17th century, the opulent reign of Louis XIV, French craftsmanship reached dazzling heights, particularly in the realm of arms and armor. This *Engraving of Firearms Ornament* by Claude Simonin, dated 1693 or 1695, exemplifies that era's fusion of artistry and functionality. Created as a precise ink-on-paper print measuring 8½ x 6⅜ inches, it served as a master pattern for decorating firearms—think intricate motifs that would grace the stocks and barrels of muskets owned by nobility and military elite. Simonin's engraving technique, a meticulous intaglio process where lines are in...