Study for "Zodiac"
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1914-38-55
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Francis Augustus Lathrop (9–1909), an American artist of the Gilded Age, created this *Study for "Zodiac"* around 1894. As a preparatory sketch classified under "figures," it likely captures preliminary designs for symbolic human forms representing zodiac signs—a popular motif in late 19th-century decorative arts Lathrop, trained in Europe and influenced by Pre-Raphaelite detail and symbolism, bridged fine art and architecture, contributing to America's burgeoning mural and mosaic traditions during the American Renaissance. This work reflects the era's fascination with classical mythology and...