Artwork

Composition avec bouquet et guirlandes de fleurs, bleuets sur tertres et frises de fleurs stylisées, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle

Composition avec bouquet et guirlandes de fleurs, bleuets sur tertres et frises de fleurs stylisées, 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.

About this work

Overview

This eighteenth‑century drawing, attributed to an unknown artist and dated around 1750, presents a decorative scheme intended for embroidered vests. The composition is preserved in the Museum of Ethnography and exemplifies the ornamental tastes of the period.

Subject & Meaning

The design arranges three curved panels, each outlined in a blue hue, filled with stylised bouquets, garlands of cornflowers, and delicate foliage. Small avian figures punctuate the motifs, adding a subtle sense of movement within the otherwise static floral arrangement.

Technique & Style

Rendered on a light ground, the illustration employs fine, hand‑painted lines to delineate petals, leaves and birds. The use of pastel pink roses, vivid greens and the repetitive frieze of tiny plants along the lower edge reflects the Rococo penchant for intricate, yet airy, surface decoration.

Context & Provenance

Created as a pattern for textile embroidery, the drawing illustrates how ornamental designs were transferred from paper to garment. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s collection as part of its holdings on eighteenth‑century costume and decorative arts, offering insight into contemporary fashion drafting practices.