Pleated Fan, 1760–80

Pleated fan. Leaf of painted parchment backed with painted paper; sticks of incised and pierced mother-of-pearl with applied metallic foil; glass stone at the rivet. The figures in the central frame are after a painting by Jean Baptiste Joseph Pater (1695-1736) entitled, “Conversation Galante dans un Parc.” The partially visible pen and ink drawing on the left is signed Perelle and is probably a copy of a countryside view by the painter and engraver, Gabriel Perelle (1603-77). Scattered framed pictures and the twisting ribbon motif create a trompe l’oeil effect.

Associated Images