Artwork Page for Persian Flowers

Details / Information for Persian Flowers

Persian Flowers

1755

Jean Baptiste Pillement

(French, 1728–1808)
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Culture
France, 18th century
Medium
etching
Measurements
Plate: 30.9 x 21 cm (12 3/16 x 8 1/4 in.); Sheet: 43 x 29 cm (16 15/16 x 11 7/16 in.)
Credit Line
Carole W. and Charles B. Rosenblatt Endowment Fund 2022.250.3
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

The artist Jean Baptiste Pillement was employed by Marie Antoinette to create decorations for her legendary retreat, the Petit Trianon, at Versailles.

Description

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, alien-like floral forms that could be adapted to various uses from textiles to wall decorations.
A vertically oriented etching in black ink on cream paper depicts a stylized botanical specimen. A thick, gnarled root at the bottom branches into three elongated leaves on the left and thorny, curving stems on the right. Fine stippling and dense, short lines provide texture. Two leaf clusters and a bell-shaped flower hang from the top, with small, dotted berries scattered throughout. The signature "J. Pillement" is inscribed near the base.

Persian Flowers

1755

Jean Baptiste Pillement

(French, 1728–1808)
France, 18th century

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