Surtout
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-313-86
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Surtout** is a captivating 18th-century print Jacques III Roëttiers1707–1784), a French artist from a renowned dynasty of engravers who served European courts and mints. Created in 1748, during the lavish Rococo era, this work exemplifies the precision of printmaking techniques honed by the Roëttiers family, known for their intricate designs on medals, coins, and ornamental illustrations. Prints like this were vital for sharing elaborate decorative motifs across workshops, influencing goldsmiths and silversmiths in crafting opulent table centerpieces— as *surtout de table* in French, evoking...