Button

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

**Button** *Agostino Brunias (Italian, ca. 1730–1796), late 18th century* *Costume & accessories, Smithsonian American Art Museum* Step into the refined world of 18th-century fashion with this intriguing "Button" by Agostino Brunias, an Italian artist whose career bridged Europe and the Caribbean. Dating to the late 1700s, this accessory captures the era's emphasis on elaborate personal adornment, when buttons evolved from functional fasteners into decorative statements on clothing, reflecting social status and craftsmanship. Brunias, best known for his lively paintings of West Indian life under British colonial rule, brings his artistic sensibility to this modest yet meaningful object. Part of the Smithsonian's costume and accessories collection—thanks to a generous gift from R. Keith Kane via the Estate of Mrs. Robert B. Noyes—it highlights how everyday items embodied cultural exchanges across the Atlantic, blending European elegance with global influences. Research on this piece is ongoing, inviting visitors to imagine the hands that wore it and the stories it holds. A tiny treasure reminding us that art thrives in the details!