Elevation of the Entrance to an Arsenal
Medium
Pen and black ink with brush and gray, brown and blue washes
Dimensions
7 5/8 x 11 7/8 in. (19.3 x 30.2 cm.)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1970
Accession Number
1970.736.21
Tags
Art Historical Context
Jean Charles Delafosse (4–1789), a leading French architect and ornamental designer of the late 18th century, this captivating *Elevation of the Entrance to Arsenal*. The drawing presents a precise frontal view of a grand doorway, likely intended for a military arsenal—a for storing arms and munitions. Delafosse's work bridges Rococo exuberance and emerging Neoclassicism, reflecting the era's fascination with symmetry, classical motifs, and functional grandeur in public architecture. Rendered in pen and black ink with subtle brush washes in gray, brown, and blue, the piece exemplifies the tec...
About the Artist
Jean Charles Delafosse · 1734–1789
French architect. Comment on works: architect; copper engraver Comment on works: Architect; Draughtsman; Ornamentist; Engraver