The triumphal arch, depicted at center, in mid-distance, consists of a higher central and two lower lateral archways. Above the central arch is a chariot with two allegorical figures of women. On the ground, seven small-scale figures of men and a woman (and even one accompanying dog) promenade below the arch, pointing or looking at it.

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Object Timeline

-0001	We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
1911	We acquired this object.
1991	We exhibited this object.
2014	We exhibited this object.
2021	You found it!

Drawing, Triumphal Arch with the Royal Swedish Coat of Arms, 1767

This is a Drawing. It was created by Louis-Gustave Taraval and made for (as the client) Adolphus Frederick, King of Sweden. It is dated 1767 and we acquired it in 1911. Its medium is pen and black ink, brush and gray, green wash, watercolor, graphite on white laid paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

A grand triumphal arch looms against a cloudy sky, its stately silhouette surmounted by a victor’s chariot. Below, diminutive figures gesture in admiration at the Neoclassical edifice. This careful pen and ink design by the Swedish artist Louise-Gustave Taraval was likely made to commemorate the victories of King Adolphus Frederick of Sweden against Prussia. The tradition of erecting triumphal arches to celebrate military success originated in the Roman Republic. The practice regained popularity in the eighteenth century, as great numbers of artists and designers traveled to Italy where they absorbed architectural lessons from the ancient world. The triple arch of Taraval’s design has precedents in Rome’s Arch of Septimius Severus (AD 203), and the Arch of Constantine (AD 312). Court pageantry could use archways as focal point for parades, fireworks and other festivities. Although Taraval was a court architect for Louis XV of France, he made several designs for Swedish court activities. The design of the arch features the triple crown of the Swedish coat of arms and on the keystone is the symbol for the Order of the Polar Star, a chivalric order created by the King of Sweden in 1748.

This object was donated by Advisory Council. It is credited Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.

The central area is taken up with simulated sky with the chariot of Apollo. Around the edges, allegorical figures seated on clouds; simulated architecture of vaults and pendentives about the outer edges, within an architectural frame.

Drawing, Chariot of Apollo, Ceiling Design for Count Bielinski's Cabinet,...
pen and gray ink, brush and watercolor, gouache, gold paint, black chalk on....
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
1911-28-214

Architectural view looking up into a circular coffered cupola, sculpted with flowers. An entablature consisting of three windows separated by pillars supports the interior ceiling. A lantern tops the cupola.

Drawing, Perspective Design for a Painted Dome and Cupola of a Church, early...
pen and black ink, brush and gray wash on off-white laid paper.
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund.
1938-88-3461

Winged figure in chariot pulled by butterflies.

Mount (France), ca. 1800
gilt bronze.
Gift of Jacob H. Schiff.
1904-20-10

Our curators have highlighted 6 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

View of a triumphal arch placed on a piazza. At the foreground stands a triumphal arch with one archway, four columns with Corinthian capitals, two reliefs, and two medallions. It stands on a marble pavement. In the middle distance, inscribed by the opening of the triumphal arch stands an obelisk. Behind the arch and on either side of the obelisk are low, one story buildings with large arched niches and small round niches. In the facades facing the front, the niches are occupied by figurative statues.

Drawing, Triumphal Arch on an Ideal Piazza, 1807
pen and black ink, brush and blue, green and yellow watercolor on cardboard.
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund.
1938-88-4138

Pillar and arch design. The framework is composed of a major arch resting upon Corinthian columns. Looking through the major arch, "Britannia" is seen enthroned atop a curved colonnade of Doric columns. Britannia is shown facing left, holding a spear, resting on her shield. The minor arches contain a large-scale urn sitting on a pedestal. Printed in black and white on a terra cotta ground. A label giving provenance is pasted near the center bottom edge.

Sidewall, Britannia, ca. 1770
block printed on handmade paper.
Gift of The Mary Washington Colonial Chapter, NSDAR.
2004-22-1

Picture of Washington Square Park with the arch in the center with townhouses behind, trees, and figures in the foreground walking sitting on benches, reading the paper, petting a dog etc.

Embroidered Picture (USA), 1930s
wool, synthetic.
Bequest of Gertrude M. Oppenheimer.
1981-28-131

Its dimensions are

46.9 x 56.3 cm (18 7/16 x 22 3/16 in.)

It has the following markings

D C BLAUW.

It is signed

Signed in pen and black ink, bottom right: Taraval; in pen and black ink, within ruled border: inv. Taraval fecit.

It is inscribed

Inscribed in pen and black ink, upper right, within ruled border (by later hand), in pen and black ink: D. 62; in pen and brown ink, verso: Projet demand de Su de pour la ville de Stockholm en 1767- / dessin et compos par L.G. Taraval, architecte, inspecteur des batimens du Roi / L G T (enclosed in monogram)

Cite this object as

Drawing, Triumphal Arch with the Royal Swedish Coat of Arms, 1767; Louis-Gustave Taraval (French, 1738 – 1794); France; pen and black ink, brush and gray, green wash, watercolor, graphite on white laid paper; 46.9 x 56.3 cm (18 7/16 x 22 3/16 in.); Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council; 1911-28-282

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibitions Hewitt Sisters Collect and The Cooper-Hewitt Collections: A Design Resource.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2B8Dn/
Accession Number 1911-28-282
Object ID 18171131