Georges Francois Blondel

Georges Francois Blondel was an eighteenth-century printmaker documented as active in 1766. His known body of work consists exclusively of topographical prints, specializing in detailed architectural views, or vedute.

Five of Georges Francois Blondel's high-quality prints are represented in museum collections, focusing almost entirely on the grand ecclesiastical and institutional architecture of Rome and the Vatican. These compositions include precise interior views such as A View of the Stairs of the Vatican, A View of the Vestibule of Saint Mary at Rome, and multiple representations titled A View of the Vestibule of St. Peter at Rome. The focus on accurate architectural representation places Blondel within the tradition of eighteenth-century European graphic artists who documented major landmarks for an international audience.

All documented prints by Georges Francois Blondel are preserved in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because works from this period are often considered public domain, downloadable artwork and reproductions derived from these historical pieces ensure the continued study and appreciation of Blondel’s contribution to architectural printmaking.