This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions), and as such we offer a high-resolution image of it. See our image rights statement.

 

See more objects with the color grey dimgrey tan darkolivegreen or see all the colors for this object.

This and 52 other objects are a part of a set whose first object is Album, Album of Architectural Prints.

Object Timeline

1920

  • We acquired this object.

2016

2026

  • You found it!

Print, Upper Plate: Essai de Balustres dans le gout Antique

This is a Print. It was designed by François de Cuvilliés the younger and published by François de Cuvilliés the younger and print maker: François de Cuvilliés the younger. It is dated 1770 and we acquired it in 1920. Its medium is etching and engraving on paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

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

It is inscribed

Upper Plate: numbered upper left corner: 7; lettered upper center: Balustrade est un appui soutenu par une rangée de petits piliers histories que l’on nomme Balus-/tres, et qui d’intervalle a autre sont séparés par des piedesteaux que l’on nomme acrotéres; lettered along right margin: A. Balustre/ d’appuie de Croisée./ B. Balr. Dorique/ pour une Blaus-/trade projetée/ devant un mai-/tre Autel/ C. Balr. Ionique/ pour une tribun-/ne accompagnée/ du même ordre./ D. Balr. Corinthien/ a differends usa-/ges interieurs.; lettered lower right corner: M; lettered in plate, lower center: Essai de Balustres dans le gout Antique inventé et grave par Mons. De. Cuvillies Capitaine 1770; numbered lower left corner: 35. Lower Plate: numbered upper left corner: 6; lettered upper center: 2me Planche d’essai de Balustres inventé et gravé par Monr. De Cuvillies Capitaine au Corps/ du genie au servisse de S. et S.E. de Baviere 1770; lettered along right margin: E. Vase Toscan pour/ une Fontaine Rustique/ F. Balre Toscan pour/ une Terrasse rustique/ dejardin ou pour une/ Balustrade de Fontai-/ne publique/ G. Balustre Composi/te suppose en peinture/ imagine pour les Ulli/minations touttes les/ parties ponctuees hori/sontalement jeraient/ transparentes/ H. Balustre Corinthi/en qui peut etre em/ploge a une Balustra-/de de chambre a/ Coucher ou à/ appuie de Théatre.; lettered lower right corner: M/ 34

Cite this object as

Print, Upper Plate: Essai de Balustres dans le gout Antique; Designed by François de Cuvilliés the younger (German, 1731 - 1777); Germany; etching and engraving on paper; Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council; 1921-6-286-36

This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

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/18242639/ |title=Print, Upper Plate: Essai de Balustres dans le gout Antique |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=15 March 2026 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>