Title page of "A New Book of Chinese Designs" 1754

This is the title page of "A New Book of Chinese Designs," a publication by Matthew Darly, a British engraver and publisher, in 1754. The title page features an elaborate, stylized inscription in a refined script, reflecting the Rococo artistic style of the time. This publication aimed to introduce a collection of "Chinese" designs, popular in 18th-century England, for use in various decorative arts like furniture, landscapes, and architecture. The designs were meant to "improve the present taste," indicating the growing influence of chinoiserie on European design. The book itself, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, stands as a testament to the fascination with Chinese art and its widespread impact on European aesthetics.