Artwork
Folding Fan Depicting the Chariot of Aurora
Folding Fan Depicting the Chariot of Aurora is a gouache painting by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. The object is a folding hand‑fan painted with gouache, a water‑based opaque pigment.
About this work
Overview
The peripheral panels contain smaller vignettes of people and floral motifs, creating a cohesive decorative scheme.
The object is a folding hand‑fan painted with gouache, a water‑based opaque pigment. When opened, the fan presents a light‑toned background divided into panels by thin gold lines. Central to the composition is a chariot drawn by horses, surrounded by figures rendered in soft pinks and blues. The peripheral panels contain smaller vignettes of people and floral motifs, creating a cohesive decorative scheme.
Subject & Meaning
The main scene depicts the mythological chariot of Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn, symbolising the daily emergence of light. The surrounding figures and blossoms reinforce themes of renewal and natural beauty, typical of decorative arts that blend narrative illustration with ornamental design. The fan’s imagery would have served both aesthetic pleasure and a subtle reference to the fleeting, transient nature of time.
Technique & Style
Painted in gouache, the surface exhibits a smooth, matte finish without the impasto texture of oil media. The artist employed flat washes of pastel pink and blue, allowing the gold dividers to accentuate each panel. Fine brushwork delineates the horses and figures, while the overall style reflects the delicate, ornamental aesthetic common to East Asian and European fan painting traditions of the early modern period.
Context
Folding fans decorated with narrative scenes were popular luxury items among aristocratic and merchant classes, serving both functional and decorative purposes. The inclusion of a classical subject like Aurora aligns the piece with the broader European fascination with mythological iconography, while the use of gouache and gold detailing reflects cross‑cultural influences in decorative arts.
Artist & 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
