Ornamental Capital Designs
Classification
Bound print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-201-26
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jean Berain the Elder (1640–1711), a masterful French designer and engraver, created *Ornamental Capital Designs* in 1711, the very year of his death. Working under Louis XIV at the opulent court of Versailles, Berain served as the royal designer for décors, tapestries, and theatrical costumes. His intricate patterns defined the "style Berain," a lively fusion of arabesques, scrolls, and floral motifs that bridged Baroque grandeur with emerging Rococo elegance. This bound print, now in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection (purchased by the Advisory Council), likely showcases his si...