Two Views of a Bracket

Art Historical Context

In the late 18th century, architect and ornamental designer Richard de Lalonde the elegance of neoclassical decoration in *Two Views of a Bracket (ca. 1780). This delicate drawing presents front and side perspectives of an architectural bracket—a supportive element often used in furniture, cornices, or wall shelving—adorned with the timeless egg-and-dart motif Popularized in ancient Greek and Roman architecture and revived during the neoclassical revival, this repeating pattern of egg shapes alternating with arrow-like darts symbolizes fertility and protection, adding rhythmic sophistication to interiors. Rendered on a modest scale of 4 3/8 x 5 inches, the work showcases Lalonde's mastery of preparatory techniques: a graphite underdrawing lays out precise forms, followed by fluid pen and black ink lines for crisp contours, and subtle brush-applied gray wash to model volume and shadow. This layered method, common in 18th-century architectural drafts, allowed designers to communicate three-dimensionality effectively to craftsmen. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as a gift from William Rieder in 2009, this piece reflects the era's fascination with antiquity amid France's pre-Revolutionary decorative arts boom. Lalonde's designs influenced furniture makers and architects, bridging classical ideals with modern elegance for discerning patrons.