Who created "Writing table (bureau plat)"?

Writing table (bureau plat) was created by Bernard II van Risenburgh in ca. 1745–50.

When was "Writing table (bureau plat)" created?

This artwork was created ca. 1745–50.

Is "Writing table (bureau plat)" in the public domain?

Yes, Writing table (bureau plat) is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Writing table (bureau plat)

Q: What medium is "Writing table (bureau plat)"?

Writing table (bureau plat) is Veneered on oak with ebony; mounts of chased and gilded bronze; top inlaid with later panels of black morocco and gilt-tooled leather.

Bernard II van Risenburgh

ca. 1745–50

Medium

Veneered on oak with ebony; mounts of chased and gilded bronze; top inlaid with later panels of black morocco and gilt-tooled leather

Dimensions

confirmed: 31 1/2 × 71 7/8 × 36 in. (80 × 182.6 × 91.4 cm)

Classification

Woodwork-Furniture

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019

Accession Number

2019.283.5

Art Historical Context

This elegant bureau plat, crafted by the renowned French ébéniste Bernard II van Risenburgh around 1745–50, exemplifies the exuberant Rococo style of Louis XV's reign. Van Risenburgh, a master of luxurious furniture from a dynasty of Dutch-origin cabinetmakers in Paris, was celebrated for his intricate designs favored by the French aristocracy. This writing table, with its serpentine apron and cabriole legs, reflects the period's taste for graceful curves, asymmetry, and playful ornamentation, transforming functional furniture into sculptural art. The construction highlights virtuoso techniqu...

Writing table (bureau plat)

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