Artwork

Composition de fruits sur branches et de baies avec guirlande de ruban à noeuds bleus, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle

Composition de fruits sur branches et de baies avec guirlande de ruban à noeuds bleus, 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 to around 1750, serves as a design proposal for embroidered waistcoat panels. The paper support shows signs of age, with a warm patina and occasional fading, yet the composition remains legible.

Subject & Meaning

The illustration arranges branches laden with peaches, grapes, and assorted berries, interspersed with small blossoms and foliage. A decorative garland of blue‑knotted ribbons weaves through the scene, suggesting a festive or courtly motif often associated with luxury textiles of the period.

Technique & Style

Executed in fine line work and muted washes, the drawing combines delicate hatching with subtle colour accents. The borders are highlighted in purple, while the interior fruit and flower motifs are rendered in soft, yet distinct, hues, reflecting the precise planning required for embroidery translation.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑1700s, the piece entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is preserved as part of the institution’s holdings on historical textile design. Its anonymous authorship is typical of workshop‑produced pattern books of the era.

Context

During the Rococo period, fashion designers frequently consulted such pattern sheets to embellish men’s garments, especially waistcoats, with naturalistic motifs. The inclusion of fruit and ribbon elements aligns with contemporary tastes for exuberant, nature‑inspired ornamentation in aristocratic dress.