Peep-show, Vue Perspective de la Place Dauphine de Paris, du Côté de la Rue de Harlay, No. 162
ca. 1750
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Edward R. Wharton
Accession Number
1901-30-11
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into 18th-century Paris with *Peep-show, Vue Perspective de la Place Daine de Paris, duôté de la Rue de Harlay, No. 162*, a captivating print from around 1750. This artwork captures a detailed perspective view of the charming Place Dauphine, triangular square on the Île de la Cité Notre-Dame Cathedral, as seen from the Rue delay side. Peep-shows this were popular optical entertainments—intricate prints designed to be viewed through a small peephole or box, creating an illusion of depth and immersion in distant scenes. Created by an unknown artist during the Enlightenment era, when curios...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...