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Arabesque Design

Pierre Thomas Le Clerc, French, ca. 1740 - ca. 1796

1788

Arabesque Design by Pierre Thomas Le Clerc, French, ca. 1740 - ca. 1796

Classification

Print

Department

Smithsonian Collection

Museum

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Credit

Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council

Accession Number

1921-6-335-27

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

**Arabesque Design** by Pierre Thomas Le ClercFrench, ca. 1740–ca. 1796) is a captivating print from 1788, now housed in the Smithsonian American Museum's collection. Created during the late Enlightenment era in France, this work exemplifies the enduring fascination with arabesque motifs—intricate, flowing patterns inspired by Islamic art and adapted into European decorative traditions. Le Clerc, a skilled engraver, captured these whimsical interlacements of foliage, scrolls, and abstract forms, which were highly prized for their elegance and versatility. As a print, the artwork likely served...

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