Artwork
L'Histoire de Joseph
L'Histoire de Joseph is an unspecified work on paper by A. Rodien. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
L'Histoire de Joseph is a painted fan attributed to A. Rodien, dating from around 1750. The object is composed of three consecutive panels that together narrate a scene in a sequential format. It is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of decorative art from the mid‑eighteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The rightmost panel encloses a smaller assemblage within a tent‑like structure, perhaps concluding the narrative with a more intimate setting.
The fan’s left panel depicts a group of figures in period costume gathered on a riverbank, suggesting a communal activity or ritual. The central panel expands the scene to a larger crowd near water, some individuals positioned on a boat, indicating movement or travel. The rightmost panel encloses a smaller assemblage within a tent‑like structure, perhaps concluding the narrative with a more intimate setting.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor, the artist achieves a soft, blended palette dominated by blues, greens and pastel tones. Delicate floral motifs frame the edges, while the miniature figures are rendered with careful attention to facial expression and gesture. The medium’s translucency contributes to a gentle, almost dreamlike atmosphere, highlighting the skill required to control washes on a portable fan surface.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1750, the fan is credited to the French artisan A. Rodien, whose work is known from a limited number of surviving pieces. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings through acquisition in the early twentieth century, though the exact path of ownership prior to that remains undocumented.
Artist & collection
Artist
This artist painted delicate watercolors on fan leaves and biblical scenes. Look at their folding fans: Eventail brisé and Eventail plié show soft washes of color and fine linework. They also illustrated L'Histoire de…
Museum
Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
Continue through works from the same source collection.
