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Object Timeline

1964

  • We acquired this object.

1993

2012

2014

2024

  • You found it!

Sidewall, Battle of Porte St. Denis

This is a sidewall. It is dated ca. 1830 and we acquired it in 1964. Its medium is block printed on handmade paper. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.

Battle scenes are not that uncommon a motif on wallpapers. Numerous scenic wallpapers including Views of the American War of Independence, The Battle of France in Egypt, and the Battle at Austerlitz all detail varying episodes of war. Repeating designs such as this one also bear military themes and trophies of war. The Porte Saint-Denis is a triumphal arch designed by architect François Blondel and sculptor Michel Anguier by order of Louis XIV in honor of his victories on the Rhine and in Franche-Comté. It was built in 1672 and paid for by the City of Paris to replace a medieval gate in the city walls built by Charles V in the 14th century. This wallpaper portrays a battle that took place at Porte St. Denis on July 28, 1830, and was possibly inspired by prints showing skirmishes at the Porte or by the famous painting by Hippolyte Lecomte (1781-1857).

This object was donated by Katzenbach and Warren, Inc.. It is credited Gift of Katzenbach and Warren Inc..

  • Sidewall (France)
  • block printed on handmade paper.
  • Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
  • 1925-1-370

Its dimensions are

164.5 x 51 cm (64 3/4 x 20 1/16 in.)

Cite this object as

Sidewall, Battle of Porte St. Denis; France; block printed on handmade paper; 164.5 x 51 cm (64 3/4 x 20 1/16 in.); Gift of Katzenbach and Warren Inc.; 1964-37-8

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18452017/ |title=Sidewall, Battle of Porte St. Denis |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=19 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>