Designs for the Decoration of Firearms

Nicolas Noël Boutet

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Nicholas-Noël Boutet (1761–1833) was director and chief designer of the imperial manufactory of arms at Versailles after the French Revolution and during the reign of Emperor Napoleon I. These drawings come from a group of seventy-two original designs for the decoration of deluxe firearms made under Boutet's direction. They are the only firearms designs from his workshop known to survive. In them we can see Boutet's innovative use of neoclassical motifs, which set the standard for firearms ornament across Europe at the time.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Metropolitan Museum of Art