Classification
Bound print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-281-80
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This title page by François de Cuvilliés the Elder invites us into the world of 18th-century printmaking. A Belgian artist active in Germany, Cuvilliés lived from 1695 to 1768 and produced this work during the later years of his career, between 1740 and 1768. As a bound print, it formed part of a larger volume, serving as an elegant introduction to the contents within. In an age before widespread photography, bound prints like this one played a crucial role in disseminating artistic ideas across Europe. While details about the medium remain unknown, these works often showcased the precision a...