Wall Barometer Design
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-310-39
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant *Wall Barometer Design* by Jean François Forty, active between 1775 and 1790, dates to the late 18th century (1775–94) and exemplifies the fusion of art and science during the Enlightenment. As a print from the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection—purchased by the Advisory Council—this work likely served as a blueprint for crafting ornate wall barometers, instruments that measured atmospheric pressure to predict weather. Such designs were highly sought after by affluent households, transforming functional tools into sophisticated decorative objects. Forty, a designer active...