François Louis Prieur

This arabesque-style wallpaper organizes scrolling leaves, flowers, vases, and figures in a balanced and harmonious way. The designer’s aim was a composition that could be repeated on a wall but also stand on its own as a single panel surrounded by a framework of molding. French wallpaper manufacturers in the late 1700s capitalized on the popularity and versatility of decorative motifs like this one. Although they were likely inspired by architecture, engravings, and other known sources, artists strove to create designs that were unlike anything that had been produced before.

–Emily Banas, associate curator of decorative arts and design