Drawing of a Knife and Sheath
The drawing is a precise and elegant rendering of an ivory-mounted Romantic Revival knife and sheath in sixteenth-century style in The Met’s collection, acc. no. 17.190.300a, b, the gift of J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917. The work of the painter, draftsman, and engraver E. H. Langlois (1777–1837), the drawing was prepared as an illustration in N. X. Willemin’s ambitious antiquarian publication of medieval and Renaissance works of art in France, Monuments francais inedits, which was issued in fifty installments between 1806 and 1839. The drawing, and perhaps the ivory dagger itself, belonged to Langlois’s friend Nicolas-Xavier Willemin (1767–1833), who sold the drawing to the English antiquary Thomas Frognall Dibdin (1776–1847) in 1818. The drawing was reproduced as an illustration in Dibdin’s A Bibliographical Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, first published in 1821, and it was again reproduced in a colored engraving in the last installment of Willemin’s book in 1839.
The actual knife and its sheath, probably the work of Dieppe ivory carvers, is an early example of romantic revival taste. It exhibits a sophisticated knowledge of sixteenth-century French Renaissance ornament and figure style and, from its earliest publication, was apocryphally known as the “knife of Diane de Poitiers,” referring to the famous mistress of King Henry II of France (r. 1547–59).
The actual knife and its sheath, probably the work of Dieppe ivory carvers, is an early example of romantic revival taste. It exhibits a sophisticated knowledge of sixteenth-century French Renaissance ornament and figure style and, from its earliest publication, was apocryphally known as the “knife of Diane de Poitiers,” referring to the famous mistress of King Henry II of France (r. 1547–59).
Artwork Details
- Title: Drawing of a Knife and Sheath
- Artist: Eustache Hyacinthe Langlois (French, Pont-de-l'Arche 1777–1837 Rouen)
- Date: 1806–18
- Culture: French
- Medium: Pen and watercolor on paper
- Dimensions: 8 ¾ x 6 ¼ in. (22.2 x 15.8 cm)
- Classification: Works on Paper
- Credit Line: Gift of Dr. Michael Pourfar, in honor of Stuart Pyhrr, 2021
- Object Number: 2021.163
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Eustache Hyacinthe Langlois
n.d.
Hector-Martin Lefuel
ca. 1870
Hector-Martin Lefuel
ca. 1870
Jean-Francois Lucas
1806
Martin Riester
dated 1850
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.