Ornamental Frame Design
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-267-2
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Ornamental Frame Design by Jean-Baptiste Fay, French artist active from 1765 through the 1790s, dates to 1784–1792. This print captures the elegance of late 18th-century decorative, showcasing a meticulously crafted design for ornamental frames likely intended for pictures, furniture, or architectural elements. Fay's work reflects the refined aesthetic of pre-Revolutionary France, where patterns guided gilders and frame-makers in creating luxurious embellishments. As a print this piece served a practical purpose: reproducing intricate motifs for widespread use by artisans across Europe and ...