Design for Cartouche Evoking the Chase
Classification
ornament
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-326-4
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jacques de Lajoüe (7–1761), French artist of the early18th century, produced Design for Cartouche Evoking Chase in 1740 Working during an era of lavish decoration, creations reflect the ornate Rococo style’s emphasis on grace, movement, the integration of nature into art. Classified as an ornament, the work is a design for a cartouche—a decorative framing device often used in architecture, furniture, or prints to enclose themes or inscriptions. The title’s reference to “the Chase” points to hunting, a popular motif among the French elite that celebrated outdoor leisure and the beauty of the wilderness. Though the medium is unknown, such preparatory designs were essential in guiding the creation of elaborate interiors. Purchased for the Smithsonian American Art Museum by the Advisory Council, this piece offers insight into 18th-century ornamental practices. With research still in progress, it remains a compelling example of how artists blended function and fantasy in the decorative arts.