Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
1805â1815
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-157
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing, titled *Design for an Embroidered oroven Horizontal Border of theFabrique de St."*, hails from the renowned silkactory Fabrique de Saint in Lyon, France, to 1805–1815. Created as a preparatory sketch, it served as a blueprint for textile production—likely guiding weavers or embroiderers in crafting decorative borders for fabrics. Lyon, the heart of France's silk during the Napoleonic era, famed for its innovative Jacquard looms and luxurious textiles that adorned Europe's elite, blending neoclassical motifs with Empire style elegance. As a medium, this ink or pencil dra...