Designs After Architecture
Classification
Bound print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-216-159
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Gilles-Marie Oppenord (1672–1742), a prominent French artist and designer, created *Designs After Architecture*, bound print posthumously published between 174 and 1761. H in the Smithsonian American Museum's collection—purchased by the Advisory Council—this work captures the ornate spirit of 18th France, where architectural motifs inspired decorative innovation. As a bound print, it compiles engraved plates serving as a pattern book, allowing artisans to replicate elegant forms in furniture, interiors, and beyond. The title suggests designs derived from architectural elements, blending struc...