Design for the Decoration of Firearms 1770 - 1830

Nicolas Noël Boutet made this graphite drawing on paper, intended as a design for the decoration of firearms. Boutet was the director of the Versailles state arms factory, and controlled all aspects of gun production, even their artistic design. This drawing shows the high level of artistry associated with gun-making in France at the time. Notice the griffin motif, chosen to ornament the weapon. Griffins are figures from classical mythology; their inclusion on a firearm alludes to ideas of power and prestige. To understand this drawing, we need to consider the social role of firearms at the time. Guns were not just weapons but symbols of status and authority. Looking into the history of the Versailles factory can tell us about the role of these objects in French society. The historian seeks to discover this context, to understand the conditions that shaped artistic production. Art speaks, but only if we listen carefully.