Design for Chest with Drawers

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

**Design for Chest with Draw** *by Mathieu Nicolas Goulet de-Morien, French, active late 18th* Step into the elegant world of 18th French design with this intriguing print by Mathieu Nicolas Goulet de-Morien, aman active during the late Enlightenment era. Titled *Design Chest with Drawers*, showcases a meticulously rendered blueprint for a practical yet stylish piece of furniture—a chest equipped with multiple drawers, likely intended for affluent households. As a print, this work served as a vital tool in the era's booming decorative arts trade, allowing artisans across workshops to replicate sophisticated forms with precision. In late 18th-century France, amid the lavish styles of Louis XV and XVI, such designs bridged functionality and opulence, reflecting the period's fascination with symmetry, proportion, and everyday luxury. Goulet de Saint-Morien's contribution highlights how prints democratized high design, disseminating ideas from royal courts to bourgeois homes. Though research on this piece is ongoing, its survival underscores the enduring appeal of French craftsmanship. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, this artwork was generously gifted by Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt, pioneering collectors of decorative arts. It invites us to appreciate the unsung heroes behind the furniture that furnished history's grand interiors. (198 words)