Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/exhibitions/35350873/

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

The exhibition showcases a selection of works from the museum’s extensive collection of 18th century European drawings and prints, featuring fantastical, unrealized architectural designs inspired by the artifacts of ancient Rome. Prompted by reports of archaeological findings, 18th century artists and writers traveled to Rome to see the excavated monuments, sculptures, and relics of the past and capture their majesty on paper. The works evoke 18th century Europe’s obsession with the grandeur of Rome and create a visual resource that can be appreciated both for its beauty and its relevance for scholars and designers today.

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18157901/

Box (England)

  • copper, brass, enamel
  • Bequest of Katherine Strong Welman
  • container
  • people
  • storage
  • ruins
  • accessories
  • pastoral

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18166943/

Handle (France)

  • gilt bronze
  • Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18166971/

Mount (France)

  • stamped, cast, and chased gilt bronze
  • Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
  • decoration
  • interior decoration
  • putti
  • neoclassical
  • birds
  • foliage
  • protection
  • Mercury

The makers of gilt bronze created furniture mounts whose motifs and figures often duplicated those found on table decorations and the gilt wood architectural decoration of the room. The primary function of such mounts was to enhance the piece of furniture and to reflect light from windows, mirrors, and candles to enliven interiors.

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18167373/

Rosette Mounts (France)

  • gilt bronze
  • Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18169765/

Drawing, Ruins with Vase, Herm, and Colonnade

  • brush and gray wash, black chalk on paper with additions across upper and lower margin, lined with cardboard and border of blue paper
  • Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18170727/

Drawing, Fantasy of an Architectural Ruin

  • pen and black ink, brush and black, brown wash, watercolor, white gouache graphite on off-white laid paper
  • Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18172091/

Drawing, View of Church Interior

  • pen and brown and gray ink, brush and wash, watercolor, black chalk on paper, lined with various sheets of paper with printed text in french
  • Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18172099/

Drawing, Piazza del Popolo, Rome

  • pen and ink, brush and gray wash, charcoal on cream laid paper
  • Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18172445/

Drawing, Ruin Fantasy

  • brush and black, gray wash, black chalk on cream laid paper
  • Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18311675/

Mount (probably Italy)

  • gilt and coppered bronze with pewter or lead surround
  • Gift of Mary A. Peoli

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18349993/

Dish, from a "Topographical" Dinner or Dessert Service ("A Vedute") Dish

  • Manufactured by Doccia Porcelain Factory
  • hard paste porcelain, vitreous enamel, gold
  • Bequest of Erskine Hewitt
  • interior
  • decoration
  • figures
  • home
  • landscape
  • dining
  • asymmetry
  • ovoid
  • boats
  • seascape

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18350007/

Plate Depicting Virgil's Tomb (Tomba di Virgilio), from a "Topographical" Dinner or Dessert Service ("A Vedute") Plate

  • Manufactured by Doccia Porcelain Factory
  • hard paste porcelain, vitreous enamel, gold
  • Bequest of Erskine Hewitt

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18357091/

Drawing, Stage Design, Fantasy of Rome with the Castel Sant 'Angelo, the Ponte Elio and the Centaurs Aristens and Pappias

  • pen and brown ink, brush and brown and gray watercolor on white laid paper
  • Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18411317/

Cassolette (perfume Burner Or Essence Vessel) (France)

  • marble, gilt bronze
  • Gift of Anonymous Donor
  • interior
  • decoration
  • neoclassical
  • personal environmental control
  • artichokes
  • ovoid
  • eggs
  • snakes
  • leaves

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18421283/

Print, Tombeau monumental avec trois femmes adossées from the series "Tombeaux"

  • etching on cream laid paper support: cream laid paper
  • Gift of Whitney Warren

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18421289/

Print, "Vase reposant sur deux Sphinx adossés", plate 2 from the series Vasi...

  • etching on paper
  • Gift of Whitney Warren

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18491973/

Book, Drawings after Ornament and Architecture

  • red chalk on off-white laid paper

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18496685/

Drawing, Figures near a Ruined Colonnade

  • pen and black ink, brush and brown and gray wash, white gouache on off-white laid paper
  • Gift of Mrs. Howard J. Sachs and Mr. Peter G. Sachs in memory of Miss Edith L. Sachs

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18510011/

Print, Wall Decoration, Plate IX from Le loggie di Rafaele nel Vaticano (Raphael's Loggia in the Vatican)

  • brush and watercolor, gouache over etching on white wove paper
  • Gift of Unknown Donor
  • architecture
  • study
  • classical
  • arabesques
  • fruit
  • ribbons
  • griffins
  • decorative
  • elevations
  • cameos
  • Vatican
  • print

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18510023/

Print, Plate I from Loggie di Rafaele nel Vaticano

  • brush and watercolor, gouache over etching on white wove paper
  • Gift of Unknown Donor

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18543925/

Drawing, Fragment of Entablature in the Classical Style

  • pen and black ink, brush and blue, brown, and gray wash, slight traces of graphite on white laid paper
  • Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
  • neoclassical
  • drawing
  • dragons
  • plants
  • rinceaux
  • frieze
  • architectural drawing

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18543927/

Drawing, Entablature in the Classical Style

  • pen and black ink, blue, brown, and gray wash, slight traces of graphite on white laid paper
  • Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18550887/

Drawing, Design for a Fan: Capriccio with Roman Ruins and the Farnese Hercules

  • pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash, graphite on cream laid paper, lined
  • Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18613213/

Cup and Saucer, from a "Topographical" Dinner or Dessert Service ("A Vedute") Cup And Saucer

  • Manufactured by Doccia Porcelain Factory
  • hard paste porcelain, vitreous enamel, gold
  • Gift of Anonymous Donor

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18635965/

Micro-mosaic Bracelet, 1800–1825

  • gold sheet and wire, glass mosaics
  • Gift of Frederick Saal in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Saal

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18635967/

Micro-mosaic Bracelet

  • gold sheet and wire, glass mosaics
  • Gift of Frederick Saal in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Saal

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18635969/

Micro-mosaic Earrings

  • gold sheet and wire, glass mosaics
  • Gift of Frederick Saal in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Saal

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18635971/

Micro-mosaic Earrings

  • gold sheet and wire, glass mosaics
  • Gift of Frederick Saal in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Saal

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18635973/

Micro-mosaic Brooch

  • gold sheet and wire, glass mosaics
  • Gift of Frederick Saal in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Saal

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18635975/

Micro-mosaic Brooch

  • gold sheet and wire, glass mosaics
  • Gift of Frederick Saal in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Saal

Excavating Design: 18th-century Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection

https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18635977/

Micro-mosaic Pendant

  • gold sheet and wire, glass mosaics
  • Gift of Frederick Saal in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Saal