Floral Tailpiece
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-234-3
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jean-Jacques Bachelier, prominent French artist (1724–1806), created *Floral Tailpiece* 1760, a print that exemplifies the ornate floral motifs of the Rococo era. Working during the lavish mid-18th century in France, Bachelier in botanical designs, contributing to the renowned Sèvres porcelain manuf and producing intricate illustrations that adorned luxury goods and publications. As a "tailpiece"—a decorative engraving typically placed at the end of a book chapter or page—this print served both aesthetic and functional purposes, signaling closure with its blooming elegance. The medium of prin...