Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf," Unfinished
1805–1815
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1914-21-71
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This unfinished drawing, created by the renowned Fabrique de Saint Ruf Lyon, France, between 1805 and 1815, served as a design template for an embroidered or woven border. Lyon, the epicenter of Europe's silk industry during the Napoleonic era, was home to innovative manufactories like Saint Ruf, which produced luxurious textiles for fashion and furnishings. As a classified drawing in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection—generously gifted by Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt—this piece offers a rare glimpse into the preparatory artistry behind opulent fabrics that adorned elite wardrobes an...