Design for an Inlaid Circular Table Top, with Alternatives
Medium
pen and gray ink with gray and black washes over graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
Overall (circular): 32.5 x 32.5 cm (12 13/16 x 12 13/16 in.) mount: 42.8 x 40.6 cm (16 7/8 x 16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1997.75.2
Art Historical Context
This exquisite drawing, titled *Design for an Inlaid Circular Table, with Alternatives*, dates to around 1800 and hails from a French or Italian workshop of the late 18th century. presents a meticulously planned circular tabletop, complete with variant motifs, showcasing the era's passion for luxurious furniture design. Such preparatory sketches were essential in the workshops of master cabinetmakers, bridging the gap between concept and craftsmanship during the Neoclassical period's transition to the Empire style, when symmetry, classical motifs, and intricate inlays symbolized refined taste ...