Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
1805–1815
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-141
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This exquisite drawing, titled *Design for an Embro or Woven Horizontal Border the "Fabrique de. Ruf"*, hails from the Fabrique de Saint Ruf, prominent textile manufactory in Lyon,, created between 1805 and 1815. Lyon was the epicenter of Europe's silk industry during this Napoleonic era, where factories like Saint Ruf produced intricate borders and trims for garments, furnishings, and upholstery. These designs often featured neoclassical motifs inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, reflecting the Empire style's grandeur and elegance. As a preparatory drawing—likely a pattern or cartoon—this w...