Two Quarters of a Ceiling
Classification
Bound print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-281-78
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Two Quarters of a Ceiling François de Cuvilli the Elder (16951768), a Belgian architect and designer who made his mark in Germany, created this intricate design during his peak Rococo period (1740–68). Trained in Paris and later serving Bavarian royalty in Munich, Cuvilliés was a master of opulent interiors, notably at the Amalienburg hunting lodge in the Nymphenburg Palace. bound print likely captures segments of an elaborate ceiling plan, showcasing his flair for architectural fantasy amid Europe's lavish Baroque-to-Rococo transition. Rococo style, with its playful curves, scrolling mot...