Matchlock Musket
c. 1640/60
Medium
Wood, walnut, and steel
Dimensions
H.: 146.7 cm (57 3/4 in.)
Classification
firearm-long gun
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
116517
Art Historical Context
Step into the Applied Arts of Europe gallery at the Art Institute of, where this Matchlock Musket (c. 1640/60) stands as a masterful blend of function and craftsmanship. Crafted from finely grained walnut wood for the stock and durable steel for the barrel, long gun measures an imposing 146.7 cm in height. Its unknown maker exemplifies the skilled gunsmiths of 17th-century Europe, transformed weapons into objects of beauty through precise joinery and polished metalwork. Dating to the mid-1600s, the matchlock musket represents a pivotal advancement in firearm technology. The mechanism used a s...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...