POELE dans le genre antique, avec quatre griffons aux quatre angles, propre à être isolé
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-407-2
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Louis-Gustave Taraval, a prominent French engraver and ornamental designer (1738–1794), *POELE dans le genre antique, avec quatre griffons quatre angles, propre à être isolé* around 1791. This print depicts a stove designed in the neoclassical "antique style," evoking ancient Greek and Roman motifs with four mythical griffons—fierce creatures with eagle heads and lion bodies—guarding its corners. The title suggests it was conceived as a standalone piece, ideal for elegant interiors, blending functionality with opulent decoration. Produced amid the French Revolution's cultural shifts, the work reflects neoclassicism's rise, fueled by rediscoveries of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Taraval, known for his intricate prints of furniture and decorative arts in the Louis XVI style, captured this era's fascination with antiquity, making such designs accessible to architects, craftsmen, and collectors. As a print in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, it highlights the era's fusion of utility and symbolism—griffons warding off evil while warming grand salons. Though research continues, this piece exemplifies 18th-century ornamental printmaking, likely an engraving that bridged art and industry, influencing European design into the 19th century. A testament to Taraval's precision, it invites us to appreciate how everyday objects became canvases for classical revival.