Ornament Design
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Unknown Donor
Accession Number
1980-32-1480
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Ornament Design** by Michel Angelo Pergolesi invites visitors into the refined world of 18th decorative arts. This Italian artist, active around1760–1801, crafted intricate patterns that adorned architecture, furniture, and interiors during a time when ornamentation blended Rococo flourish with emerging Neoclassical elegance. Though the exact date remains unknown, Pergolesi's work reflects the era's fascination with symmetrical motifs, scrolling foliage, and classical motifs, essential for disseminating designs across Europe. As a drawing from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collectio...