ÉLEVATION D’UNE CHEMINÉE
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-338-6
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Élévation d’une Cheminée**, created in 1768 by French artist A. Le Canu (active 1746–1768), is a print depicting the front elevation of a fireplace. Produced at the close of the artist’s known career, this work belongs to the tradition of 18th-century architectural and decorative prints that illustrated interior designs for architects, craftsmen, and patrons. In mid-18th-century France, the chimneypiece was a central feature of room decoration, combining function with ornament. Prints like this one helped circulate fashionable designs, allowing elaborate fireplace schemes—often in marble, w...