French Rococo Ébénisterie In The J. Paul Getty Museum

This catalogue focuses on French ébénisterie furniture in the Rococo style dating from 1735 to 1760. These splendid objects directly reflect the tastes of the Museum's founder, J. Paul Getty, who started collecting in this area in 1938 and continued until his death in 1976.

The Museum's collection is particularly rich in examples created by the most talented cabinet masters then active in Paris, including Bernard II van Risenburgh (after 1696-ca. 1766), Jacques Dubois (1694-1763), and Jean-François Oeben (1721-1763). Working for members of the French royal family and aristocracy, these craftsmen excelled at producing veneered and marquetry pieces of furniture (tables, cabinets, and chests of drawers) fashionable for their lavish surfaces, refined gilt-bronze mounts, and elaborate design. These objects were renowned throughout Europe at a time when Paris was considered the capital of good taste.

In this volume, the entry on each work comprises both a curatorial section, with description and commentary, and a conservation report, with construction diagrams.