Three Designs for Candlesticks
Medium
lighting
Classification
lighting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
Accession Number
1938-88-626
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Three Designs for Candlest** by Luigi Righetti, an Italian artist active from 1780 to 1819, dates to 1802 and a glimpse into early 19th-century decorative. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, these designs showcase Righetti's skill in conceptualizing elegant candlesticks—functional objects that blended utility with ornamentation. Acquired through museum purchase and donor gifts, including the Eleanor G. Hewitt, they highlight the Smithsonian's commitment to preserving European design influences in American collections. Created during a pivotal era bridging Neoclassicism and the emerging Empire style under Napoleonic influence, Righetti's works reflect Italy's rich tradition of metalwork and silversmithing. Candlestick designs like these were essential for illuminating grand interiors, emphasizing symmetry, classical motifs, and refined proportions prized in the period. Though research on this piece is ongoing, it underscores the artistic ingenuity behind everyday luxury items, inviting visitors to appreciate how such sketches paved the way for masterful craftsmanship.