Design for a Chimneypiece with Borghese Dancers
1780â1800
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
Accession Number
1938-88-8201
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant drawing, titled *Design for a Chimneiece with Borghese D*, dates to the late 18 or early 19th century (1780–1800) and captures the neoclassical fervor of the era. Created by an unknown artist, it depicts a fireplace mantel—or chimneypiece—ornamented with the iconic Borghese Dancers, a pair of Hellenistic sculptures of graceful, flowing female figures originally from the Borghese collection (now in the Louvre). dancers, symbolizing rhythmic motion and classical beauty, were rediscovered antiquities that inspired architects and designers during the Enlightenment's revival of Greco-R...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...