Textile
18th century
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase from Au Panier Fleuri Fund
Accession Number
1957-51-4
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Claude-Louis Desrais’s “Textile” offers a rare glimpse into eighteenth-century French decorative arts. Born in 1746 and active until his death in 1816, Desrais worked during a period when printed and painted fabrics played an essential role in fashion, interior decoration, and international trade. This piece, acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum through the Au Panier Fleuri Fund, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship that defined the era’s luxury textiles. Classified as printed, dyed, and painted, the work highlights techniques that combined artistic design with industrial skill. S...