Profil du dedans de la cour et du petit Jardin de l’Hostel de Liancourt

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

Jean Marot (1619–1679), a pioneering French engraver and architect created *Profil du dedans de la et du petit Jardin de’Hôtel de Liancourt around 1635–1660. This intricate print captures the intimate courtyard and small garden of Hôtel de Liancourt, a Parisian residence belonging to the noble Liancourt family. Marot's work exemplifies the emerging Baroque style in French architecture, with its emphasis on symmetry, classical proportions, and elegant spatial arrangements that reflected the opulence of the aristocracy under Louis XIII. As part of Marot's seminal series documenting Paris's hôtels particuliers—lavish townhouses that have largely vanished— this print serves as a vital historical record. Produced during a transformative era when printmaking revolutionized architectural documentation, Marot's precise line etchings allowed designs to be disseminated widely, influencing builders across Europe. His technical mastery in rendering textures, shadows, and perspectives brought these spaces to life on paper. Today, housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection (purchased by the Advisory Council), this rare print offers visitors a window into 17th-century French urban life and the fleeting grandeur of noble estates, underscoring the enduring value of prints as both art and archival treasure.