Designs for the Decoration of Firearms 1772 - 1830

This drawing by Nicolas Noël Boutet, a French designer active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, presents two designs for the decoration of firearms. The designs are circular and feature intricate patterns, with one incorporating a depiction of the sun with a human face, and the other a star surrounded by floral motifs. These designs, created between 1772 and 1830, demonstrate Boutet's skill in ornamental design and his interest in classical and natural motifs. The drawings, now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offer a glimpse into the decorative arts of the period and the craftsmanship of gunsmiths.