Garden Fountain
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-442-4
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Garden Fountain** (1753) is a delicate print by Charles Eisen, a prominent French artist (1720–1778) renowned for his Rococo elegance. Active during the lavish reign of Louis XV, Eisen served as the king's chief engraver, crafting intricate illustrations for books by Voltaire and others. This work, created at the height of the Rococo movement, likely captures the playful, ornate beauty of an 18th-century French garden—think cascading water, sculpted figures, and lush foliage symbolizing nature's harmonious luxury. As a print, *Garden Fountain* exemplifies Eisen's mastery of engraving techni...