IIE. SUITE DE VASES
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-502-7
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**IIe. Suite de Vases is a captivating print by Jacques-Philippe de Beauvais a talented French engraver active in 18th-century Paris (9–1781). Created between 1760 and 1764, this work belongs to a "suite," or series, depicting elegant vase designs—a popular format in the Rococo era. As part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, by the Advisory Council, it the refined ornamental prints that bridged art and craft during Louis XV's reign. In the opulent world of pre-Revolutionary France, such prints served as inspirational blueprints for artisans crafting luxury goods like porcelain, silverware, and furniture. Beauvais specialized in these intricate motifs, blending flowing curves and naturalistic elements typical of Rococo exuberance with emerging Neoclassical symmetry. Though the exact medium remains under study (research in progress), its classification as a print highlights the era's booming reproductive techniques, making high design accessible to workshops across Europe. This piece invites us to appreciate how 18th-century innovation democratized beauty, turning paper visions into tangible splendor. A gem in the Smithsonian's holdings, it whispers of Versailles' grandeur and the artistry that adorned aristocratic tables. (198 words)