Design for the Corner of a Decoration (recto); Sketch of Monumental Building with Four Temple-Front Entrances (verso) 1720 - 1740

This intricate drawing by Jacques de Lajoüe, dated between 1720 and 1740, is a design for a decorative corner element. The artist utilized detailed pen and ink work to depict a flowing, asymmetrical arrangement of stylized foliage and urns, characteristic of the Rococo style. The design, perhaps intended for a grand interior or architectural element, exemplifies the exuberance and elegance of the Rococo period. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses this delicate piece of design history.