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Persian Flowers
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Jean Baptiste Pillement was one of the most influential designers of the Rococo period, known for his varied and prolific chinoiseries (European variants of Chinese and Japanese motifs). His designs were spread throughout Europe primarily via their translation into prints. This print is one of a set of six etched by Pillement himself. Each depicts a so-called “Persian” flower, largely fantasies, presenting strange, alienlike floral forms that could be adapted to various uses from textiles to wall decorations.
| Artist / Maker | Jean Baptiste Pillement |
|---|---|
| Date | 1755 |
| Culture / Origin | France |
| Medium | etching |
| Dimensions | Plate: 30.5 x 20.9 cm (12 x 8 1/4 in.); Sheet: 42.8 x 29.2 cm (16 7/8 x 11 1/2 in.) |
| Department | Prints |
| Type |
About the Artist
In the early part of his career, he worked as a textile designer at the Gobelins factory, and as a decorative painter in Spain and Portugal. He eventually moved to London, where in 1755 he published the first of many books of Chinoiserie designs. However, he was most well-known for his prints of flowers. His popularity waned significantly when Rococo design fell out of fashion at the end of the century. Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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