Album met voorstellingen van verschillende ornamentele vazen 1764

Benigno Bossi created this album of ornamental vases sometime in the 18th century. In this period, the decorative arts became increasingly important for establishing cultural identity and projecting soft power. Bossi, working in countries such as Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, was at the intersection of an important European movement. Vases, as luxury items, became important symbols of wealth, taste and artistry. Bossi’s vase designs would have been strongly tied to court culture. They reflect the increasing sophistication of design education, the emergence of design academies, and the importance of drawing as a skill. These institutions helped to codify styles and disseminate them across Europe. To fully understand these vase designs, we can look to period pattern books, design treatises, and the records of the royal courts and academies that fostered this artistic output. The history of art is closely bound up with the history of institutions.