Design for an Urn
ca. 1770–90
Medium
Black chalk, brush and watercolor; framing lines in pen and black ink.
Dimensions
19 3/4 x 14 1/16 in. (50.2 x 35.7 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Raphael Esmerian, 1963
Accession Number
63.547.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant design for an urn, created by George Heinrich von Kirn 1770–90, reflects the late eighteenth century’s deep admiration for classical antiquity. Rendered in black chalk and watercolor with crisp pen-and-ink framing lines, the drawing captures the graceful contours and ornamental details typical of Neoclassical taste. Such urns were often intended for gardens, interiors, or memorials, blending functional form with decorative elegance. The inclusion of faces among the motifs suggests an interest in expressive, human-centered decoration drawn from ancient sources. At roughly 20 by 14...