Desseins Arabesques a Plusieurs Usages Inventés par J.B. Toro 1716

Jean Bernard Toro created this print, Desseins Arabesques a Plusieurs Usages, during the late 17th and early 18th century in France. The image presents an elaborate, fantastical design, typical of the Baroque and early Rococo periods, meant to showcase the artisan’s skill and imagination. The visual codes here are derived from classical mythology and are combined with pure invention. Note the presence of sea creatures, cherubs, and intricate scrollwork, all rendered with fine detail. This aesthetic reflected the cultural values of the French aristocracy, emphasizing luxury, elegance, and the display of wealth and power. It was the time of Louis XIV. Institutions like the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture helped to codify and disseminate these aesthetic principles. By studying design prints like this one, alongside period accounts and the history of the French Royal Academy, we can better understand the social and institutional context that shaped artistic production during this era.