Design for a Trophy
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-494-2
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Antoine Watteau, the celebrated French Rococo master (1684–1721), is best known for his enchanting *fêtes galantes*—elegant outdoor scenes of lovers and revelers that defined early 18th-century taste. *Design for a Trophy*, dated around 1735, reflects his influence even after his early death. As a posthumous print from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, it likely reproduces one of Watteau's intricate preparatory drawings, showcasing his skill in ornamental design. Such trophies were popular decorative motifs in Baroque and Rococo interiors, assembling symbolic objects like shiel...