Artwork

Composition florale avec guirlandes et fleurs exotiques, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle

Composition florale avec guirlandes et fleurs exotiques, 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 by an unidentified hand, this paper drawing is part of the Museum of Ethnography’s collection.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1750 by an unidentified hand, this paper drawing is part of the Museum of Ethnography’s collection. It presents a decorative scheme intended for a men’s vest, featuring a stylised arrangement of foliage, exotic blossoms and two small birds. The composition functions as a preparatory study, illustrating how the motif might be transferred onto textile.

Subject & Meaning

The design centres on a branch laden with vividly rendered flowers—pinks, blues and greens—interspersed with leaves and two perched birds. Such naturalistic elements were popular in eighteenth‑century fashion ornamentation, symbolising elegance and the fascination with exotic botanical specimens that circulated through European courts.

Technique & Style

Executed with fine, deliberate lines on aged paper, the drawing combines light sketching with modest areas of wash. The artist’s hand balances simplicity and precision, using restrained shading to suggest volume while leaving much of the surface open, a common approach for embroidery templates where the final colour would be supplied by thread.

History & Provenance

The work, attributed only to an anonymous creator, dates to the mid‑eighteenth century, a period when textile designers often left their names unrecorded. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings through a 20th‑century acquisition of decorative arts, where it now serves as a reference for the study of historic garment decoration.