Artwork
Eventail plié
Eventail plié is an unspecified work on paper by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. The object is a painted folding fan depicting a small narrative scene.
About this work
Overview
The object is a painted folding fan depicting a small narrative scene. Central to the composition are five women dressed in flowing garments; two on the right are armed with shields and a spear, while the remaining figures stand beside a deer. The setting includes a low fence and trees, all enclosed within a decorative border of gold‑leaf motifs.
Subject & Meaning
The arrangement suggests a juxtaposition of martial and pastoral elements, perhaps alluding to mythological or courtly themes where women embody both protective and nurturing roles. The presence of the deer, a common symbol of gentility and nature, reinforces a connection to an idealized natural world.
Technique & Style
The fan’s surface is painted in fine detail, with the surrounding border embellished by gold leaf applied in leaf‑shaped motifs resembling leaves or blossoms. The handle is crafted from silver and finished with a scalloped edge, providing a contrasting metallic sheen to the gilded border.
History & Provenance
The fan’s construction—painted paper or silk with a silver handle—places it within a tradition of portable decorative objects used in East Asian courtly culture. Its specific origin and date are not recorded, but the use of gold leaf and the martial iconography align with decorative practices of the late Ming to early Qing periods.
Context
Folding fans served both practical and aesthetic functions, often bearing scenes drawn from literature, folklore, or courtly life. The combination of armed women and wildlife reflects a broader artistic interest in blending human activity with natural settings, a motif common in decorative arts of the era.
Legacy
Objects such as this fan illustrate the interplay of fine painting, metalwork, and gilding techniques that characterized elite decorative arts. The gold‑leaf border demonstrates how artists employed gilding to accentuate visual richness and convey status in portable artworks.
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
