Design for the Embroidery of a Man's Waistcoat, Probably no. 951, of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1921-22-232
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of 18th-century French fashion with this intriguing *Design for the Embroidery of a Man's Waistcoat*, likely catalog number 951 from the renowned Fabrique de Saint Ruf in Lyon, France, circa 1785. Created as a preparatory drawing—its exact medium yet to be specified—this delicate work captures the blueprint for luxurious embroidery destined for a gentleman's waistcoat, a key garment in the era's elegant menswear. Lyon, the silk capital of Europe, was famed for its innovative textile workshops like Saint Ruf, where designers sketched intricate patterns to guide skill...