Ornamental Vase Design
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-509-2
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Juste-François Boucher (6–1782), son of the renowned Rococo master François Boucher, created this *Ornamental Vase* between 1755 and 1768, a prime period for French decorative arts. As a skilled draftsman and engraver, Boucher contributed to the opulent world of 18th-century Europe, where intricate designs adorned luxury objects like porcelain, silver, and furniture. This print captures the essence of the Rococo style—playful, asymmetrical motifs of scrolling foliage, shells, and floral garlands that evoked the lightness and elegance of Versailles-era refinement. Classified as a print, the wo...