Design for a Sofa, from: Nouvelle Iconographie Historique III, series Q

Art Historical Context

This elegant etching and engraving presents a detailed design for a sofa, created in 1771 or later as part of the series *Nouvelle Iconographie Historique III*, series Q. Produced through the collaborative efforts associated with Jean de La Fontaine, Duval, and Daumont, the print belongs to the Metropolitan Museum’s collection of ornament and architecture works. Measuring just over nine by thirteen inches, it exemplifies how 18th-century printmakers captured the graceful lines and decorative motifs favored in furniture of the period. Etching and engraving techniques allowed artists to render intricate patterns with remarkable precision, making such designs widely accessible to craftsmen, patrons, and collectors across Europe. These prints played a vital role in disseminating ornamental ideas, bridging fine art and practical craftsmanship during a time when neoclassical influences were beginning to shape interior decoration. Housed in the Department of Drawings and Prints and acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1929, this work offers visitors a glimpse into the historical dialogue between art, utility, and taste. As a furniture-focused piece, it highlights how everyday objects became vehicles for aesthetic innovation and cultural expression in the late 1700s.

About the Artist

Jean de La Fontaine|Duval|Daumont (French|French|French) · 1621 |1750 | –1695 |1780 |

French, Château-Thierry 1621–1695 Paris|active ca. 1750 (?)–1780|Paris