Calèche à Bancs
Medium
Bound print
Classification
Bound print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-272-6
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
"Calèche à Bancs" is a captivating bound print by French artist Jean-François Chopard active in the 18th century, created around 1750. This work depicts a elegant calèche—a light, open carriage with benches—showcasing the refined transportation of France's aristocratic elite during the Rococo era. As a bound print, it likely formed part of a collected volume of designs, a common practice among artisans and collectors for preserving intricate illustrations of vehicles, architecture, and decorative motifs. In the mid-18th century, such prints served both artistic and practical purposes, dissemi...