Tintype Photograph of Gustave Young (1827–1895)

Tintype Photograph of Gustave Young (1827–1895)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This rare tintype photograph of the noted firearms engraver Gustave Young was part of a trove of records and ephemera relating to his work and family that remained with Young's descendants until 1966. Unfortunately, the material is now scattered among several private collections. Nevertheless, this evocative portrait of Young captures him in the prime of life and at the peak of his career, probably around the time that he engraved the Colt revolver also in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. no. 2010.481a–l).

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tintype Photograph of Gustave Young (1827–1895)Tintype Photograph of Gustave Young (1827–1895)Tintype Photograph of Gustave Young (1827–1895)Tintype Photograph of Gustave Young (1827–1895)Tintype Photograph of Gustave Young (1827–1895)

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.