Ornamental Design for the Letter B
Classification
ornament
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1911-28-230-3
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Gilles-Marie Oppenord, prominent French designer and architect (16721742), created this *Ornamental Design for Letter B* around 1720, during the elegant Regency period following Louis XIV's death. This era marked a shift from the grandeur of Baroque to the lighter, more whimsical Rococo style, where Oppenord excelled as a master of decorative motifs. Working as architect to Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (the Regent), he influenced interiors at places like the Palais-Royal, blending asymmetry, scrolls, and floral elements into harmonious patterns. As a prime example of ornamental design, this p...