Design for two entablatures
1770-1790
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1911-28-119
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Design for Two Entablatures *Unknown artist, 1770–1790, Drawing*This delicate drawing presents precise designs for two entablatures—the horizontal bands crowning classical columns, comprising architrave, fr, and cornice. Created by an unknown artist during the late colonial and early Federal period in America, it the era's growing enthusiasm for neoclassical architecture. As the new nation drew inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome, such designs symbolized ideals of order, democracy, and grandeur, adorning public buildings, grand homes, and civic spaces. Dating to 1770–1790, the work r...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...