A Spanish (Castilian) Long Fowler, mid-1630s, Painted by Diego Velázquez

Matchlock · 18th July 2011, 11:58 AM

Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez died in Madrid in 1660.

This painting, preserved at the Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg and called The Knife Grinder, judging by the style of the gun and the costumes, seems to have been executed in the mid-1630's, when the Thirty Years War had started getting most outrageous. D. Lavin, in A History of Spanish Firearms, gives a date of 'ca. 1636' for this painting. Unfortunately, all photos in this book are of extremely poor printing quality.

The butt stock of the gun clearly reflects the late Spanish musket form, the lock mechanism is called agujeta, a miquelet type of flintlock variation caracteristic of both Portugal and Spain. Please note the period surface colors: the wood is varnished light while the iron contrasts in blueish or black. With most guns heavily cleaned, we nowadays mostly get the 'negative' impression by the pieces we look at, with their iron polished bright.

Please also note the exceptional length of the delicate gun notably surpassing that of the man.

Best,
Michael

18th July 2011, 11:58 AM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Spanish (Castilian) Long Fowler, mid-1630s, Painted by Diego Velázquez Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez died in Madrid in 1660. This painting, preserved at the Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg and called The Knife Grinder, judging by the style of the gun and the costumes, seems to have been executed in the mid-1630's, when the Thirty Years War had started getting most outrageous. D. Lavin, in A History of Spanish Firearms, gives a date of 'ca. 1636' for this painting. Unfortunately, all photos in this book are of extremely poor printing quality. The butt stock of the gun clearly reflects the late Spanish musket form, the lock mechanism is called agujeta, a miquelet type of flintlock variation caracteristic of both Portugal and Spain. Please note the period surface colors: the wood is varnished light while the iron contrasts in blueish or black. With most guns heavily cleaned, we nowadays mostly get the 'negative' impression by the pieces we look at, with their iron polished bright. Please also note the exceptional length of the delicate gun notably surpassing that of the man. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 18th July 2011 at 06:26 PM.