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From the exhibition

Ornamental Fountain Design

Gilles-Marie Oppenord, French, 1672–1742 · Early 18th century

Ornamental Fountain Design
This engraved design by French ornamentalist Gilles-Marie Oppenord exemplifies the exuberant Rococo aesthetic. The composition centers on a circular basin framed by scrolling acanthus leaves and crowned with cherub heads. A bearded satyr mask anchors the lower section, surrounded by naturalistic foliage and S-curve volutes. Oppenord's refined technique demonstrates the decorative vocabulary that shaped European garden architecture and interior design. His prolific output of ornamental prints influenced metalworkers, sculptors, and architects throughout the eighteenth century, establishing conventions for luxury objects and palatial interiors.

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