Design for Table
18th century
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-94-504
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Augustin Nicolas Foin, a French artist active in the mid-18th century (1726–c. 1759), created this *Design for Table* during a golden age of decorative arts in France. The 18th century saw the rise of the Rococo style under Louis XV, where intricate furniture designs blended elegance with playful ornamentation. Foin's print captures this era's emphasis on luxurious domestic objects, likely intended as a blueprint for cabinetmakers crafting ornate tables for aristocratic homes. As a print medium, the work exemplifies how artists disseminated innovative designs across Europe through reproducibl...