An Early 16th c. North Italian Landsknecht Arquebus
 

This is a painting by the so called Master of the Cassoni Campana, active in Florence, Northern Italy, at the beginning of the 16th century (Italian Renaissance period).

As was the usual practice of artists, only the counter lockside is depicted, so we do not know whether this type af arquebus was equipped with a matchlock ignition, though in that period it most probably had one with a lateral push button trigger.

Please note the blued iron barrel with the heavily swamped bell mouthed muzzle section (Mündungskopf), the ramrod and the natural, unvarnished surface of the full stock. What should be especially noted is the modern 'Winchester type' indented shape of the rear end of the buttstock!

The painting tells the Ancient Greek mythological scene of the taking of Athena by Minos.

Best,
Michael