Fan — The Triumph of Love, Great Britain, 1869
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1869
Fan in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number 2177-1876), made in Great Britain, dated 1869, attributed to Wyatt, Matthew Digby. The museum's brief description reads: 1869, British; Painted kid.
Triumph of Love. Museum description: Fan, mount made from skin, painted by Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt with the Triumph of Love, in medallions, cupids, landscapes and scrolls. The stick and guards made from ivory, carved, pierced and painted.: turquoise studs. The museum records it as Gouache on vellum, with gilt ivory sticks and guards, measuring Length 11.1/8 in. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt was an eminent artist and art historian. He acted as an Art Referee for the South Kensington Museum (later the V&A), recommending acquisitions. He and his wife were keen collectors of fans. They amassed hundreds from Europe and East Asia, which they donated to the V&A in 1876. Sir Matthew designed and painted this fan as a gift to his wife in 1869. The images on the fan leaf are an allegory on the ‘Triumph of Love’. Part of the inscription reads ‘For Love is Heaven and Heaven is Love’. It is signed ‘M Digby Wyatt to Mary Wyatt’.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- skin, ivory, turquoise
- Dimensions
- Length 11.1/8 in
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Gouache on vellum, with gilt ivory sticks and guards
- Maker recorded
- Wyatt, Matthew Digby
- Place recorded
- Great Britain
Identification
- Museum object name
- Fan
- Museum object number
- 2177-1876
- Museum system number
- O87109
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.