Arabesque Ornament Designs
late 18th century
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-306-3
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jean-Baptiste Fay, a French artist active from 1765 through the 1790s, created *Arabesque Ornament Designs in the late 18 century, a time when elaborate decorative motifs bridged the opulent Rococo style and emerging Neoclassicism. As a print in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection—purchased by the Advisory Council—this work exemplifies the era's fascination with arabesques: intricate, flowing patterns inspired by nature, vines, and exotic motifs, often borrowed from Islamic art and adapted for European interiors, furniture, and textiles. designs were highly practical, serving as...