Floral Ornament Design
1738â49
Classification
Bound print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-213-18
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Gabriel Huquier's *Floral Ornament Design created between 1738 and 1749, exemplifies the exuberant Rococo style that flourished in mid-18th-century France As a prominent engraver and print publisher, Huquier (1695–1772) specialized reproducing intricate ornamental motifs inspired by contemporaries like Antoine Watteau. This bound print, part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, likely served as a pattern source for artisans crafting furniture, wallpapers, and silverwork, capturing the era's love for delicate flowers, scrolling vines, and playful asymmetry. Rococo designs like ...