Rough Stone Arches Strengthened by Wooden Beams
late 18th century
Classification
architecture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
Accession Number
1938-88-201
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the rugged ingenuity of late 18th-century America with *Rough Stone Arches Strength by Wooden Beams*, captivating architectural study from the Smithsonian American Art. This artwork, created by an unknown artist, captures the raw harmony of stone and timber in structural form—jagged arches of rough-hewn rock buttressed by sturdy wooden beams. Classified simply as "architecture," it likely documents utilitarian scene, perhaps from early infrastructure like bridges, mills, or quarries, where practicality trumped ornamentation. In the post-Revolutionary era, such designs reflected Amer...
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...