Exhibition labels & didactics - National Gallery of Victoria

216
Nicolas-Noël BOUTET
French 1761–1833
Chest containing a rifle and pair of
pistols given by Napoleon when
First Consul to General Masséna
Coffret avec un fusil et une paire de
pistolets offert par le Premier Consul au
général Masséna
Consular period 1799–1804
Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), Walnut (Juglans sp.),
steel, gold, silver
Private collection, Paris
André Masséna was made Marshal of the
Empire in 1804 and was subsequently
honoured with the titles of Duc de Rivoli
in 1808 and Prince d’Essling in 1810.
As First Consul, Napoleon awarded this
chest of arms to General Masséna for his
successful actions during the First Italian
Campaign. The underside of its lid records
this campaign’s milestones. Fashioned from
walnut and steel damascened with silver and
gold, adorned with chased silver garnitures,
this rifle and pair of flintlock pistols are
covered with splendid decorations of
unparalleled richness.
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