Artwork

Composition de bouquets de feuilles en grappes et de fleurs multicolores, semis de fleurs et de feuilles, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle

Composition de bouquets de feuilles en grappes et de fleurs multicolores, semis de fleurs et de feuilles, 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

The drawing, attributed to an anonymous hand around 1750, depicts two pieces of fabric laid flat and folded, each covered in a lively arrangement of flowers, leaves and winding vines. The motifs run along the edges in continuous bands, set against a plain beige ground, suggesting a design intended for decorative embroidery on a garment.

Subject & Meaning

The composition features clusters of multicoloured blossoms—pink, blue, yellow and green—interspersed with foliage and delicate buds. The repetitive, ornamental pattern reflects eighteenth‑century tastes for naturalistic yet stylised botanical motifs, often employed to convey elegance and refinement in textile decoration.

Technique & Style

Rendered in fine line work, the drawing emphasizes the texture of petals and leaf veins, while the use of a limited palette highlights contrast between the vivid hues and the light background. The scalloped edge treatment and swirling vines are characteristic of French Rococo textile designs, where embroidery served both aesthetic and status functions.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1750, the piece is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. Its anonymous authorship is typical of workshop productions of the period, where pattern books circulated among artisans for the preparation of embroidered garments such as waistcoats.