Design for the Embroidery of a Man's Waistcoat of the Fabrique de St. Ruf
1780–1790
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1921-22-231
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing, titled *Design for the Embroidery of a Man's Waistcoat of the Fabrique de St. Ruf*, hails from Lyon, France—the epicenter of Europe's silk and textile industry in the late 18th century. Created between 1780 and 1790 by the renowned Fabrique de Saint Ruf workshop, it served as a blueprint for opulent embroidery on a gentleman's waistcoat, a staple of fashionable menswear during the waning years of the Ancien Régime. Waistcoats like this one were canvases for intricate patterns, showcasing floral motifs, scrolls, or geometric designs that symbolized wealth and refinement. ...