LA PERSPECTIVE DE ST. CLOU qui est devant le grand Salon represente le Temple de Flore
1680–1703
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-533-79
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Adam Perelle's *LA PERSPECTIVE DE ST CLOU qui est devant le grand Salon represente le de Flore* (ca. 1680–1703) captures a stunning vista from the Château de Saint-Cloud, a royal residence near Paris. This intricate print showcases the Temple of Flora positioned before the grand salon, highlighting the estate's manicured gardens and architectural splendor. Perelle, a French engraver (1638–1695), in topographical views that immortalized the opulent landscapes of Louis XIV's eraCreated during the height of French Baroque grandeur, the print reflects the Sun King's passion for Versailles-style gardens designed by André Le Nôtre. Saint-Cloud, with its terraces and follies like the Temple of Flora—a nod to classical mythology—symbolized royal power and harmony with nature. As a print, it served as an accessible medium, allowing Europe's elite to "visit" these sites vicariously through detailed engravings. Perelle's precise line work and dramatic perspective technique emphasize depth and scale, making this Smithsonian American Art Museum treasure a window into 17th-century France's cultural prestige. Acquired through the Advisory Council, it invites us to appreciate how prints democratized royal magnificence.