Nouveaux Ornemens D'Arquebuseries

Gilles Demarteau

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Demarteau, the son of a Liege gunsmith, was apprenticed under the Parisian engraver De Lacollombe, who is known chiefly for his designs for firearms ornament. These prints, part of a set of nineteen, come from Demarteau's only pattern book devoted solely to firearms decoration. From the 1750s onward, Demarteau established himself as one of the most successful engravers of his generation and was renowned for perfecting the technique en manière de crayon, which allowed prints to simulate the appearance and subtlety of chalk drawings.

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