Design for Escutcheon, with Skulls and Books n.d.

This anonymous pen and wash drawing, “Design for Escutcheon, with Skulls and Books,” is a detailed design for a decorative escutcheon, a shield-shaped ornamental plate, likely for a piece of furniture or a building. The artist used a delicate and precise line to render the ornate scrollwork and floral motifs that frame the central blank space, intended for a coat of arms or other inscription. The overall aesthetic is characteristic of the Rococo style, a popular 18th-century artistic movement that emphasized intricate decoration, asymmetry, and a sense of playful movement.