Chimneypiece Designs
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
1921-6-201-94
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jean Berain the Elder (1640–1711), a master French ornamental designer and engraver, created *Chimneypiece* in the year of his death,1711. Serving as draftsman to King Louis XIV, Berain a pivotal figure in the opulent decorative arts of the Baroque era, influencing everything from Versailles furnishings to theatrical sets. His "Berainesque" style— by swirling arabesques, mythical motifs, and elegant foliage—bridged the grandeur of the Sun King's reign with emerging Rococo lightness. This bound print, a collection of engraved designs for ornate fireplace surrounds (chimneypieces), exemplifies ...