Two Designs for the Decoration of Firearms
ca. 1797–1805
Medium
Pencil, ink, gray wash on paper
Dimensions
1 1/8 x 2 1/2 in. (2.9 x 6.4 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
2004.101.49
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nicolas Noël Boutet, the renowned French gunsmith and of the Manufacture de Versailles small arms factory during the Napoleonic era, created these delicate *Two Designs for the Decoration Firearms* around 1797–1805. Working in the opulent courtly tradition of Versailles, Boutet elevated firearms from mere weapons to masterpieces of craftsmanship, adorning them with intricate engravings for elite collectors, military officers, and Napoleon himself. These preparatory sketches capture his vision for ornamental motifs, likely featuring scrolling leaves and floral elements suited to the metal surfa...
About the Artist
Nicolas Noël Boutet · 1761–1833
French, Versailles and Paris, 1761–1833