Hunting Trophy Design
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-389-36
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Pierre Ranson (1736–1786) was a French designer celebrated for his ornamental prints during the late 18th century, a time of transition from Rococo exuberance toward the elegant restraint of the Louis XVI style. His 1778 work *Hunting Trophy Design* captures this moment through refined decorative motifs drawn from nature and aristocratic life. Hunting themes held special appeal in French decorative arts, where compositions of game, weapons, foliage, and ribbons symbolized nobility, abundance, and the pleasures of the chase. As a print, Ranson’s design served as a practical model for craftsmen...