Frieze: Trophies of Arms and Putti
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-97-2
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jean Le Pautre’s *Frieze: Trophies of Arms and Putti* (1671) captures the ornate spirit of French Baroque design during the reign of Louis XIV. As a leading engraver and ornamentalist, Le Pautre specialized in creating intricate patterns that blended classical motifs with contemporary grandeur. This print, part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection, showcases his talent for arranging military trophies—helmets, shields, and weapons—alongside playful putti, or cherubic figures, in a continuous frieze format ideal for architectural decoration. Though the exact medium remains unspec...