Designs After Architecture Fragments
Medium
Bound print
Classification
Bound print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-216-138
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Gilles-Marie Oppenord (1672–1742), a prominent French architect and ornamental designer, left a lasting legacy in the Rococo, known for its elegant curves, playful motifs, and intricate detailing. *Designs After Architecture Fragments*, published posthumously between 1749 and 1761, captures his fascination with classical architectural elements reimagined through a decorative lens. As a bound print—a compiled volume of engraved plates—this work served as a pattern book, offering artisans, architects, and decorators ready-to-use motifs inspired by ancient fragments. These designs reflect the 18...