LES TROIS FONTAINES
1672–1703
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-533-117
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Adam Perelle’s “ Trois Fontaines” offers a glimpse into the refined of 17th-century French printmaking. Created between 1672 and 1703 by the Paris-born artist (1638–1695), this engraving captures elegance of formal garden design through precise line work and balanced composition. Prints like one played a vital role in documenting and sharing architectural and landscape across Europe long before existed. As a medium, engraving allowed artists to reproduce intricate scenes with remarkable detail, making grand estates and ornamental fountains accessible to a wider audience. Perelle specialized in such views, contributing to a visual record of French cultural life during the reign of Louis XIV. Though research on this particular impression is ongoing, its presence in the Smithsonian American Art Museum highlights the enduring appeal of these works as both artistic achievements and historical documents. Acquired through the Advisory Council, the print invites viewers to appreciate the technical mastery and cultural significance of early modern European engraving.