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
1920-36-159
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing, titled *Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"*, hails from the renowned textile workshops of Lyon, France, created between 1805 and 1815. Lyon was Europe's silk-weaving capital during the Napoleonic era, where "fabriques" like Saint Ruf produced luxurious fabrics for fashion, furnishings, and exports. As a preparatory sketch, this work served as a blueprint for embroidered or woven borders, highlighting the meticulous planning behind the city's intricate textile designs. Rendered in drawing medium, it exemplifies the fusion of...