Artwork

Bouquets de fleurs, guirlandes de feuilles et semis de fleurs, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle

Bouquets de fleurs, guirlandes de feuilles et semis de fleurs, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle is a drawing by Anonyme. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. Created around 1750, this anonymous drawing serves as a design template for embroidered waistcoat panels.

About this work

Overview

Rendered on a light‑beige sheet, it arranges numerous floral motifs—pinks, blues, whites, reds—interspersed with green leaves and stems.

Created around 1750, this anonymous drawing serves as a design template for embroidered waistcoat panels. Rendered on a light‑beige sheet, it arranges numerous floral motifs—pinks, blues, whites, reds—interspersed with green leaves and stems. The composition is organized in tidy rows, with blue outlines indicating where stitching should occur. The paper shows signs of age, including faint discoloration and worn edges, and is presently conserved by the Museum of Ethnography.

Subject & Meaning

The illustration presents a decorative program of bouquets, leaf garlands, and scattered blossoms intended for textile embellishment. By juxtaposing vivid flower clusters with delicate foliage, the design reflects the eighteenth‑century taste for naturalistic ornamentation on men's garments, suggesting both aesthetic pleasure and a display of refined craftsmanship.

Technique & Style

Blue lines trace the intended stitch paths, functioning as a schematic for needlework rather than a finished image. The motifs are rendered with precise, linear drawing, emphasizing clarity for the embroiderer. The overall style aligns with the Rococo penchant for asymmetrical, flowing patterns, while the systematic arrangement hints at the emerging emphasis on repeatable decorative schemes in fashion.

History & Provenance

Attributed to an unknown artist, the drawing dates to the mid‑eighteenth century, a period when embroidered waistcoats were fashionable among the European elite. It entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is catalogued as a representative example of period textile design documentation.