Elévation et Profil d'un Secrétaire en Tombeau
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-331-70
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Richard de Lalonde's *Élévation et Profil d Secrétaire en Tombeau created between 1775 and1788, is a print depicting the front elevation and side profile a neoclassical writing desk. The "secrétaire en tombe"—named for its tomb-like pedestal base—was a sophisticated furniture form emblematic of late 18th-century French elegance. As a designer active from 1780 to 1796, Lalonde specialized in such architectural illustrations, which guided artisans in crafting luxury pieces blending symmetry, clean lines, and subtle classical ornamentation. This work captures the shift from the ornate Rococo st...