Three Frieze Designs
1657â82
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-341-86
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jean Le Pautre (1618–1682), a masterful French engraver and designer of the era, created *Three Frieze Designs* during his prolific later years (1657–82). Working in the opulent courtly style of Louis XIV's France, Le Pautre in intricate ornamental prints that adorned architecture, furniture, and. Friezes—continuous decorative bands—were essential to grand 17th-century interiors, evoking classical antiquity while showcasing lavish motifs like scrolling foliage, mythical figures, and architectural flourishes. These designs reflect the era's grandeur, bridging Renaissance symmetry with emerging ...