Artwork
A la cathédrale
A la cathédrale is an unspecified work on paper by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. The object is a hand‑operated fan whose leaf is unfolded to reveal six miniature painted panels.
About this work
Overview
The object is a hand‑operated fan whose leaf is unfolded to reveal six miniature painted panels. Each panel depicts a solitary woman in elaborate attire positioned beside an architectural element or a tree. The overall palette is restrained, dominated by pale blues, soft pinks and muted greens, while the fan’s rim is embellished with gilt leaf and a pattern of black stipples.
Subject & Meaning
The six vignettes present women in fashionable dress, suggesting scenes of leisure or ritual associated with a domestic or ceremonial setting. Their proximity to structures or foliage may allude to themes of travel, pilgrimage, or the juxtaposition of human presence within built and natural environments, though no explicit narrative is provided.
Technique & Style
The miniature scenes are executed in a delicate watercolor manner, allowing for translucent washes and subtle tonal shifts. Gold leaf applied to the fan’s border adds a reflective quality, while the black dot motif frames the composition. The handle, shaped like a feather and wrapped in green ribbons, combines functional design with ornamental flourish.
History & Provenance
The fan’s precise origin and date remain uncertain; its stylistic cues point to a historical period when painted fans were popular accessories among the affluent. The combination of watercolor miniatures and gilded edging aligns with decorative arts traditions of East Asian and European courts, though no documented provenance accompanies the piece.
Artist & collection
Museum
Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
Continue through works from the same source collection.
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
