Designs for the Decoration of Firearms

Nicolas Noël Boutet

ca. 1795–1805 · Pencil, ink, gray wash on paper · Arms and Armor

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.

Artist

Nicolas Noël Boutet

Date

ca. 1795–1805

Medium

Pencil, ink, gray wash on paper

Culture

French, Versailles

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Purchase, Clay P. Bedford Gift, 2004