Quarts de plafons
1650
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1650
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Quarts de plafons is a 1650 ink by Jean Lepautre, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows two ornate ceiling corners with swirling patterns and figures. On the left, a winged person holds a scroll while perched on a cloud. Below them, another figure kneels, holding a scroll too. The right side has a similar scene with a cherub and a draped figure. The background is packed with intricate designs—scrolls, leaves, and geometric shapes. The tiny details in the carvings and the dramatic poses of the figures suggest this was meant to look like fancy palace ceilings. The artist used shading to make the surfaces look three-dimensional, even though it’s just ink on paper. Check out how this was made using the technique: etching.
![Renouvellement d'Alliance avec les Suisses 1663 (Renewal of Alliance with the Swiss 1663) [pl. 18]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/b0549fa383211be6/thumb.webp)
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