Artwork preview

Arabesque with a Boat

Anne Allen after Jean-Baptiste Pillement

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of a fantastical garden scene with whimsical elements and intricate, delicate structures. The painting depicts an arrangement of floral and arboreal forms creating a tapestry-like composition, interwoven with intricate patterns of latticework and figures engaged in various activities atop these structures. Small animals are perched within the branches, while vibrant colors of blues, pinks, and earthy tones create a vivid visual tapestry. Imaginary elements blend in, including a small boat at the bottom right corner with a bright orange load. The use of color and whimsical subjects suggest inspiration drawn from 18th-century European decorative arts. This is in the style of Jean-Baptiste Pillement.

Artwork Details

Date
early 1760s
Medium
color etching inked à la poupée on laid paper
Dimensions
3188 × 4404 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original