Recueil d'Ornemens A l'Usage des Jeunes Artistes qui se destinent à la décoration des bâtimens 1777

This 1777 engraving by Gilles Paul Cauvet, titled *Recueil d'Ornemens A l'Usage des Jeunes Artistes qui se destinent à la décoration des bâtimens*, is a classic example of Rococo ornamentation. The design, featuring a central urn held aloft by mermaids and surrounded by elaborate foliage, exemplifies the period’s love for asymmetry, natural forms, and playful embellishment. Cauvet, a prominent French architect and designer, intended this plate as a model for young artists seeking to master the decorative arts. The delicate lines and intricate details of the *Recueil d’Ornemens* highlight the elegance and sophistication that characterized Rococo design in 18th-century France.