LâOBSERVATOIRE
1667â1703
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-533-45
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Gabriel Perelle, a French printmaker active during the seventeenth century, created this work titled L’Observatoire between 1667 and 1703. Living from 1604 to 1677, Perelle specialized in detailed landscape views that captured the architectural and natural beauty of France. As a print, the piece would have allowed wide circulation of its imagery, making important sites accessible to a broader audience beyond those who could visit in person. The title suggests a focus on an observatory, likely reflecting the era’s growing interest in astronomy and scientific institutions under royal patronage....