Two Quarters of a Ceiling
Medium
Bound print
Classification
Bound print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-281-85
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
François de Cuvilli the Elder (1695–1768), a Belgian-born architect and designer who made his mark in Germany, was a master of the exuberant Rococo style. Active at the Bavarian court in Munich, he created lavish interiors for palaces like the Amalienburg Pavilion. *Two Quarters of a Ceiling produced between 1740 and 1768, showcases his talent for intricate ornamental designs, likely depicting sections of an opulent ceiling plan intended for grand European residences. As a bound print—a medium popular in the 18th century for architectural pattern books—this artwork served as a practical tool ...