Ornamental Design with Fruit and Flowers (recto); Flower Stalk with Leaves (verso)
18th century
Medium
Black chalk with pastel on blue paper (recto); black chalk (verso)
Dimensions
16 1/16 x 11 1/4 in. (40.8 x 28.6 cm) frame: 24 x 16 in. (61 x 40.6 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1961
Accession Number
61.557.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming double-sided drawing by French artist Alexis Peyrotte dates to the 18th century, a period when ornamental designs flourished in decorative arts across Europe. On the recto, vibrant fruit and flowers burst forth in an intricate composition, evoking the lavish Rococo aesthetic of abundance and natural elegance. The verso features a more restrained flower stalk with leaves, showcasing Peyrotte's versatility in capturing botanical motifs—likely intended as studies for furniture, wallpapers, or interior panels, common in the opulent salons of the time. Crafted with black chalk and pa...
About the Artist
Alexis Peyrotte · 1699–1769
Comment on works: Still life; Flowers; Fruit; Birds; Animals; Ornamental draftsman