Design for Six Brooches

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

Girolamo Venturi’s “Design for Six Brooches,” created in 1739, captures the delicate planning behind wearable art of the period. As a preparatory work rather than finished pieces, it reveals how jewelers once sketched multiple variations to explore form, proportion, and ornament before crafting in metal and stone. The sheet’s presence in the Smithsonian American Art Museum underscores the enduring appeal of such designs as both functional records and small works of art in their own right. Though the exact medium remains under study, the drawing’s classification as jewelry highlights its role in documenting eighteenth-century taste. Brooches of this era often served as personal statements of status and affection; seeing six ideas together lets viewers imagine the choices a patron might have faced. Acquired through the generosity of many donors and the Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund, the piece now invites modern audiences to appreciate the quiet creativity that precedes every sparkling ornament. Research on Venturi and this sheet continues, yet the design already offers a charming window into the thoughtful process that turns raw ideas into treasured jewelry.