Fan — The Toilette of Cupid, France, 1670-1680

Fan in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number T.155-1978), made in France, dated 1670-1680. The museum's brief description reads: Fan, The Toilette of Cupid, leaf of vellum painted in watercolours with sticks and guards of pierced and carved tortoiseshell, France, 1670-80.

Museum description: Fan with leaf of brown vellum painted in watercolours. The scene shows an imaginary interior furnished in the Baroque style. The main items of furniture consist of bed and a bath, each with its own canopy, and a harpsichord. Occupying the centre of the room is fireplace and an overmantle furnished with blue and white vases and a painting of cupid. Cupid is aiming his dart at the occupant of the bath, who is assisted by a number of almost identical attendants.

Cupid is engaged in preparing his bed and bath whilst others entertain him with music. The room has no walls and overlooks a wooded landscape. The elliptical roof is supported by a series of decorative, but erratically placed, pillars. The painting style is simple, but detailed in its execution, providing a useful illustration of an seventeenth century bedroom and bathing ceremony. All the figures have the same physical appearance, being small, chubby and childlike.

The reverse is painted with three bunches of roses, spaced… The museum records it as Gouche on leather, with carved and pierced tortoiseshell sticks and guards with metal rivet, measuring Height 30.5 cm; Width 58 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.