Curious Beauty

Playful putti, nude nymphs and sinister satyrs adorn the intricate and imaginative 'Suite de Vases' by Ennemond-Alexandre Petitot (1727 – 1801).

This display showcases eleven of his beautifully eccentric, neoclassical drawings for ornamental vases, engraved by Benigno Bossi (1727 – 1792). First published as a set of 31 plates in 1764, they combine Petitot’s architectural training and a decorative French aesthetic to create some of the most innovative and attractive vase designs of the 18th century.