Design for a Choir Screen
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-126-1
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jean Le Pautre (1618–1682), a prominent French artist and engraver of the Baroque era, created this *Design for a Choir Screen* around 1670. Working during the lavish reign of Louis XIV, Le Pautre specialized in intricate ornamental designs that blended architecture, sculpture, and decoration. Choir screens, common in grand European cathedrals, separated the nave from the choir area, often serving as elaborate backdrops for liturgical ceremonies. This print captures Le Pautre's vision for such a structure, showcasing his mastery of elaborate motifs inspired by classical antiquity and contempor...