Matchlock Petronel
1570/80
Medium
Steel, iron, fruitwood, staghorn, and horn
Dimensions
L. 122 cm (48 1/2 in.) Barrel L. 101.6 cm (40 in.) Wt. 7 lb. 12 oz. Caliber .60
Classification
firearm-long gun
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
106401
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Petronels were shot from the chest (their name comes from the French word for chest, poitrine). These crook-butted long guns were a popular stock design for a few decades at the end of the 16th century. They were soon supplanted by more practical shoulder stocks as the recoil resulted in chronic chest injuries.
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...