Esemplare di Alcuni ornati, per la gioventù amante del Disegno

Art Historical Context

This 18th-century etching book, titled *Esemplare di Alcuni ornati, per la gioventù amante del Disegno* (“Examples of Some Ornaments, for the Youth Who Love Drawing”), served as an instructional manual for aspiring artists and designers. Compiled with contributions from Italian and French artists including Carlo Bianconi, Antoine Babuty Desgodets, and Antoine Le Pautre, the volume gathers ornamental motifs—particularly delicate leaves and heraldic insignia—that young students could copy to develop their drawing skills. Such pattern books were popular teaching tools during the Enlightenment, reflecting a growing emphasis on accessible artistic education across Europe. Printed in the etching medium, the work allowed for fine, reproducible lines that captured the intricate details of foliage and symbolic emblems. Its modest dimensions made it practical for studio use, while the collaborative authorship highlights the international exchange of design ideas at the time. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s Drawings and Prints department as part of the Elisha Whittelsey Collection, the book offers a glimpse into how 18th-century educators nurtured creativity through the study of natural and emblematic forms.

About the Artist

Carlo Bianconi|Angelo Ferri|il Longhi|Antoine Babuty Desgodets|Antoine Le Pautre · 1732–1802

Italian scholar and archivist; first secretary of the Reale accademia di Brera. Comment on works: painter; sculptor