Interior Alcove
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-341-29
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Interior Alcove** by Jean Le Paut (French, 1618–1682), created around 1650, is a print from the Smithsonian American Museum's collection. Le Pautre, a master engraver and designer during France's opulent Baroque era, specialized in intricate ornamental works that captured the grandeur of royal interiors. This piece likely showcases an elegant alcove—a recessed architectural niche popular in 17th-century palaces—adorned with lavish details reflecting the era's love for symmetry, scrolling motifs, and rich embellishments. As a print, *Interior Alcove* exemplifies the revolutionary role of eng...