Sarcofaag, friezen en kroonluchter 1820

Pierre-Nicolas Beauvallet made this print of a sarcophagus, friezes and a chandelier. It's an image that speaks to the late 18th century's fascination with classical antiquity. The artist has copied, redrawn and re-presented a selection of objects from a different time and place. Beauvallet was a sculptor who trained at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris. The Academy played a key role in shaping artistic taste during this period, imposing a hierarchy of genres which favored classical subjects. The visual codes are overtly classical, from the roman bust to the depiction of mythological figures. This image creates meaning through cultural references and historical associations. Antiquarianism was fashionable, with wealthy elites furnishing their homes with classical-inspired sculpture and design. To understand such an image fully we need to explore the history of taste, of design and the art market. By consulting sources such as trade records, inventories and design pattern books, we can gain insights into the social and institutional context of art.