# Designs for Ornamental Arabesque Motifs

**Etienne de Lavallée-Poussin** (French, 1735–1802)  
1770  
Pen and brown ink, brush and brown watercolor, graphite on paper  
31 × 19 cm (12 3/16 × 7 1/2 in.)

Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1911-28-199. [The museum's record](https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/view/objects/asitem/id/18172).

## About this work

Top left, a mask of a human figure with horns from which are suspended tassels. Under it, a nude female figure seen frontally, seated on a sheet held in both hands, arms extended. Upper right, a motif showing a nude trumpeter standing on a rinceau, and beside him a putto astride a unicorn, and below, another putto carrying a banner. Center left, a winged herm supporting a shelf. Center, a winged terminal figure seen frontally. Lower left, two vases, one in the form of a pitcher whose handle terminates in a human figure who pours liquid into the vase over his shoulder. Lower right, two winged genii flank a medallion showing a putto seated by an urn, and below, two putti embrace over paired volutes flanking a medallion but portrait.

_Text from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum._

Etienne de Lavallée-Poussin painted this in 1770, aged 35. It is now at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.

### How it was made

- **Watercolour.** Pigment in gum arabic, thinned with water and laid in transparent washes. Nothing white is painted: the light is the paper showing through.
- **Graphite.** Pencil. Graphite has been used for drawing since the 1500s; in 1795 Nicolas-Jacques Conté mixed it with clay, so its hardness could be graded.
- **Pen and ink.** Drawn with a quill or reed pen, often with wash added by brush to model light and shadow.

### [Etienne de Lavallée-Poussin](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/etienne-de-lavallee-poussin)

French, 1735–1802

## Facts

- Type: Drawings
- The artist was 35
- Real size: about 12 × 7½ in (31 × 19 cm). The 11 × 14 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 18th century
- Colour: white
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1712.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1712/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/designs-for-ornamental-arabesque-motifs-si-chndm-1911-28-199).