Trophy Design
late 18th century
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-295-6
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This late 18th-century print, titled Trophy Design, was created by the French artist Jean-Charles Delafosse (1734–1789). Working during a period of artistic flourishing in France, Delafosse produced designs that highlighted the elegance and sophistication of decorative arts. Trophy designs were a favored motif in 18th-century ornamentation, typically featuring carefully composed arrangements of symbolic items such as arms, trophies of war, or emblems of the arts. Prints like this one played a crucial role in the dissemination of design ideas, allowing architects, craftsmen, and patrons to acc...