Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf," Unfinished
1805â1815
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1914-21-74
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of early 19th-century French design with this unfinished drawing from therique de Saint Ruf, renowned silk workshop in Lyon, France, dating to 1805–1815. Lyon, the epicenter of Europe's silk industry, was home to innovative "fabriques" like Saint Ruf, which produced luxurious woven and embroidered fabrics for fashion, furnishings, and export. This horizontal border design, likely intended for high-end textiles, captures the meticulous planning behind opulent decorative arts during the Napoleonic era. As a preparatory drawing—medium unknown but classified as such—this piece...