Fan, Italy, ca. 1700
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1700
Fan, Italy, ca. 1700 is an object recorded by Victoria and Albert Museum, dated ca. 1700. The museum's brief description reads: 1700c, Italian; Painted kid, watercolour.
Battle scene. Museum description: Fan with pierced ivory sticks and guard, watercolour-painted kid leaf depicting battle scene The museum record gives material recorded as ivory, kid; place associated: Italy. These details come from the holding 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
This fan depicts the storming of Jerusalem during the First Crusade in 1099. In 1096, a large army from Western Europe was raised by fervent preaching to re-establish Christian rule in the Holy Land of Palestine, then governed by Muslims. Many legends grew up around the main events of the Crusade. Here Godfrey de Bouillon, one of the army's leaders, is miraculously healed after suffering a serious wound in the battle leading up to the storming of the citadel. It is likely that this story originates from one of a cycle of chansons de geste, ballads or epic poems performed by professional storytellers, which related the events of the First Crusade. The popularity and longevity of chansons de geste goes some way to explaining the depiction of this rather incongruous subject upon a fan. Godfrey de Bouillon was the hero of several later epics, including La Gerusalemme Liberata by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso, first published in 1581. That version of Godfrey's story was hugely successful across Europe and scenes from the poem were used to decorate the French palace of Fontainebleau, and were also depicted by artists including Guercino and Boucher.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- ivory, kid
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Kidskin painted in watercolours, ivory
- Place recorded
- Italy
Identification
- Museum object name
- Fan
- Museum object number
- 2202-1876
- Museum system number
- O224881
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 materials, dimensions, maker and wider type against the holding institution and a specialist reference.