Suite de Douze Vases

Art Historical Context

Suite de Douze Vases is an elegant 18th-century etching that captures the taste for classical ornament during the Enlightenment. Created after 1764 by designer Ennemond Alexandre Petitot with contributions from engraver Juste Nathan Boucher and publishers Basan Frères, the suite presents twelve inventive vase designs. Rendered through the precise lines of etching—a technique prized for its ability to reproduce fine detail—this work functioned as both an artistic publication and a practical pattern book for craftsmen. The compositions blend antique-inspired forms with lively decorative motifs, including centaurs and abundant plant life. These elements reflect the period’s fascination with mythology and natural abundance, transforming functional objects into vehicles for storytelling and visual delight. Such suites helped spread neoclassical ideals across Europe, influencing silversmiths, porcelain makers, and architects. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1930 through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, this delicate volume preserves a moment when printed design books bridged fine art and the decorative arts, inviting viewers to appreciate both the skill of the etcher and the imaginative spirit of the age.

About the Artist

Ennemond Alexandre Petitot|Basan Frères|Juste Nathan Boucher · 1727–1801

Recipient of the Grand Prix in 1745. Court architect to the Bourbons of Parma. Became a citizen of Parma in 1758. Elected a member of the Académie royale d'architecture (France) in Paris in 1762. Macmillan mentions that Petitot worked as urban planner, inventor of decorative displays, technician of hydraulic engineering, engraver and planner of festivals. French architect, printmaker and designer,...