Wheellock Rifle
c. 1670
Medium
Steel, staghorn, cherry wood, beech wood, gilt brass, copper, and enamel
Dimensions
W.: 105.5 cm (41 9/16 in.)
Classification
firearm-long gun
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
267440
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This rifle’s eccentric design conveys a certain tension between rough and refined, natural and artificial, and—metaphorically—hunter versus hunted. Its antler-like stock is veneered with plaques of natural staghorn, sawn, cut, and shaped to the contours of a traditional German rifle. In extreme contrast, the stock’s cheek rest is mounted with a painted enamel depicting the Roman goddess of the hunt, Diana. Five similar rifles were produced for several dukes of Saxony and the king of Denmark, but...
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...