Design for a Waistcoat
1785-1795
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Jacob H. Schiff
Accession Number
1906-21-205
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Design for a Waistcoat from 1785–1795 a glimpse into late 18th-century American, a time when the young United States was embracing neoclassical styles inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. Waistcoats, or vests, were essential to men's formal attire, often richly embroidered to showcase wealth and taste amid the Federal era's growing interest in refined elegance. As a preparatory drawing, it likely served as a blueprint for tailors or embroiderers, capturing intricate patterns that would translate into luxurious silk or wool garments. Created by an unknown artist, this work highl...
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...