Design for the letter B of a pictorial alphabet: Bienfaisance (Charity)
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Erskine Hewitt
Accession Number
1938-57-779
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Victor Vincent Adam, a prolific French artist (1801–1866) known for his detailed genre scenes and illustrations, created this charming drawing around 1830 as part of a pictorial alphabet.itled *Design for the letter B a pictorial alphabet: Bienaisance (Charity)*, it ingeniously pairs the letter "B" with an evocative image of charity, a virtue central to 19th-century moral education. Adam's work reflects the era's fascination with visual learning tools, where alphabets blended art and pedagogy to teach children letters through memorable symbols. As a preparatory drawing—likely intended for eng...