Design for a Tablet for a Chimney-Piece with Two Swans in Combat, Enclosed within a Scrolling Cartouche with a Water-Spouting Dragon's Head

Thomas Johnson

1762 · Crayon manner and stipple engraving · Drawings and Prints

Design for a Tablet for a Chimney-Piece with Two Swans in Combat, Enclosed within a Scrolling Cartouche with a Water-Spouting Dragon's Head — Thomas Johnson

Thomas Johnson was an important master carver of Rococo ornament in London during the 1750s and 1760s. This design represents courting swans near crumbling masonry and is contained within a swooping frame adorned with leaves and a spouting dragon. It comes from a suite of six engraved designs for ornamental tablets intended to adorn the center of mantelpieces.

Artist: Thomas Johnson
Date: 1762
Medium: Crayon manner and stipple engraving
Department: Drawings and Prints
Credit line: Gift of Harvey Smith, 1985

Visually similar works

Plate Nine from Plusieurs Models des plus nouuelles manieres qui sont en usage en l'Art de ArquebuzerieAdrien Reynier, called Le Hollandois|Thuraine|C. Jacquinet
Design for half Ceiling in stuccoAnonymous, Italian, Piedmontese, 18th century
Female grotesque and harpy (recto); fantastical creatures and masks (verso)Andrés de Melgar
Design for the Decoration of a CorniceAnonymous, Italian, Bolognese 18th century artist
Architectural Design with a Decorated Frieze Containing a History Scene and LandscapeAnonymous, Italian, 17th century
Rococo CartoucheAnonymous, French, 18th century
Plate Eight from Plusieurs Models des plus nouuelles manieres qui sont en usage en l'Art de ArquebuzerieAdrien Reynier, called Le Hollandois|Thuraine|C. Jacquinet
Horizontal Panel Design Filled with a Meandering Acanthus Rinceau and Two Fantastical Creatures.Polifilo Giancarli|Anonymous, Italian, Venetian, 17th century
Disegni Varij di Polifilo Zancarli (Friezes)Polifilo Giancarli|Odoardo Fialetti
Ornamental Design with Diana and Endymion in a Central CartoucheJacob Denys
Plate Three from Plusieurs Models des plus nouuelles manieres qui sont en usage en l'Art de ArquebuzerieC. Jacquinet|Adrien Reynier, called Le Hollandois|Thuraine
Design for a Theatre, or Hall for a Special FêteGiacomo Chiavistelli