Fan leaf
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1670-1680
This fan leaf is an arched, unmounted leaf produced in France between 1670 and 1680. It is painted in gouache on leather (also referenced in records as vellum) and is mounted on card. The piece measures 62.2 cm in maximum width and 23.2 cm in depth.
The decoration features a central cartouche depicting Venus and Cupid against a dark ground. Venus is attended by putti carrying symbols of love, including one supporting a shield with a pierced heart to signify 'love conquers all', and another holding a bow while touching the point of an arrow. In the distant landscape, a lake is visible with several swans, birds traditionally associated with Venus. The central scene is flanked by elaborate sprays of flowers that represent spring, love, and betrothal, all set against the dark background.
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
The dark ground was a popular decorative choice during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, selected because it allowed the painted colours to glow with greater intensity than when executed on a pale background.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Gouache on leather, mounted on card
- Dimensions
- Width: 62.2 cm; Depth: 23.2 cm
Technical characteristics
- Maker recorded
- Unknown
- Place recorded
- France
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Fan leaf
- Museum object number
- T.184-1920
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.