Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-260-2
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This enigmatic *Print* by French artist Pierre Bourdon (ca. 1656–1708) offers a glimpse into the refined world of late 17th-century European printmaking. Bourdon, active during the opulent reign of Louis XIV, was part of a vibrant tradition of French artists whose works often captured the grandeur of the Baroque era. The "after" designation suggests this piece is a reproduction or interpretation based on one of his original designs, a common practice that allowed intricate compositions to reach wider audiences through the emerging technology of printmaking. Housed in the Smithsonian American ...