Design for a Door
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-332-125
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Design for a Door** Richard de Lalonde, a French artist from 1780 to 1796, the elegance of late 18th-century design. Created between 1780 and 1789, this showcases a proposed architectural element, reflecting the refined tastes of France's ancien régime just before the Revolution. As part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection—purchased by the Advisory Council—it highlights how European design ideas crossed oceans to influence American tastes. Prints like this one were vital tools in the era, allowing architects, craftsmen, and patrons to share intricate patterns efficiently. De Lalonde's work likely served as a blueprint for ornate doors in grand homes or public buildings, emphasizing symmetry and classical motifs typical of the period's ornamental arts. Though research is ongoing, it evokes the opulence of Louis XVI-era interiors. This piece invites us to appreciate the artistry behind everyday grandeur, bridging functional design with aesthetic beauty in a time of cultural flourishing.