Ornament Design
mid- 18th century
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-328-12
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Ornament Design** by Nicolas-Jean-Baptiste Po (1707–1780), a masterful French engraver, captures the exuberant spirit of mid-18th decorative arts. Created as a print during the height of the Rococo period this work exemplifies the era's fascination with intricate, playful motifs—think swirling acanthus leaves, delicate shells, and asymmetrical flourishes that adorned everything from furniture to wallpaper. Poilly, part of a prominent family of engravers, specialized in such designs, translating opulent patterns into reproducible prints that guided artisans across Europe. As a print medium, ...