Rock gnomes have been the archetypical race for artificer-themed characters since long before artificers were added to the game. You get bonuses to Intelligence and Constitution, which are both good for an artificer who’s wearing armor on the front line. You also get extra utility out of tinker’s tools, and you double your proficiency bonus for Intelligence (History) checks related to any magical item, alchemical object, or technological device. Plus, Gnome Cunning is a solid defensive feature for any role.