Alcove with Military Trophies
1656â57
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-341-21
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Alcove with Military Trophies is a captivating print by Jean Le Pautre, a prominent French artist and designer active during the opulent Baroque era (1618–1682). Created around 1656–57, this work exemplifies Le Pautre's mastery ornamental engraving, a technique he used to disseminate intricate decorative designs across Europe. As a leading figure in Louis XIV's France, Le Pautre to the grandeur of Versailles and royal interiors, blending architecture with lavish embellishments. The title evokes an intimate alcove adorned with military trophies—captured flags, weapons, and armor piled in tri...