Artwork

Gilet aux fleurs mauves, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle

Gilet aux fleurs mauves, 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. The piece is a mid‑18th‑century paper drawing that presents a decorative floral motif intended for a men’s vest.

About this work

Overview

The piece is a mid‑18th‑century paper drawing that presents a decorative floral motif intended for a men’s vest. Rendered in a palette of mauve, pink, yellow and green, the composition includes additional white and brown accents. The design is executed on a yellowed, slightly torn sheet that shows signs of age, suggesting it was once part of a larger collection of pattern sketches.

Subject & Meaning

The illustration depicts an arrangement of stylised blossoms and foliage, organized to guide the placement of embroidered stitches on a garment. The choice of vivid, contrasting hues reflects contemporary tastes for elaborate, colourful adornments in aristocratic clothing, while the botanical elements convey a decorative rather than symbolic function.

Technique & Style

The drawing combines fine line work with washes of watercolor, allowing the artist to indicate both the outlines of the flowers and the subtle shading of petals. The careful rendering of leaf venation and petal texture demonstrates a high level of draftsmanship typical of French ornamental design manuals of the period.

History & Provenance

Created around 1750 by an unknown hand, the sketch entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is catalogued as a reference for historical textile decoration. Its anonymous attribution aligns with many workshop‑produced pattern books, which were often circulated without individual signatures.