Batteur d'or, Plate I
18th century
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. George A. Kubler
Accession Number
1949-152-259
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Benoît-Louis Prévost, a skilled French engraver active from 1735 to 1804, created this work during a vibrant period of artistic and scientific exploration in 18th-century Europe. Titled *Batteur d'or, Plate I*, the print likely captures the intricate craft of gold beating, a traditional technique used to produce the thin sheets essential for gilding and decorative arts. As a classified print in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection, it reflects the era’s growing interest in documenting skilled trades through reproducible imagery. Though details about its medium remain under researc...