Ornament Design
early 17th century
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-440-2
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Ornament Design** by Pierre Gandin offers a glimpse into the elegant world of French decorative arts from the early 17th century. Gandin, a French artist during the transitional late 15th to early 16th centuries created this print as part of a tradition where intricate patterns served as blueprints for craftsmen. Housed in the Smithsonian American Museum's collection—purchased by the Advisory Council—this piece reflects the era's fascination with harmonious motifs, blending Renaissance precision with emerging Baroque flourish. As a print, the work's medium allowed for precise reproduction a...