Our Fans

Ancient historical and mythological subjects in the decorative arts abound during the reign of King Louis XIV of France and they continue well into the 18th Century.  Louis liked to identify himself with Alexander the Great who, as well as being a military genius, was a popular compassionate monarch. This fan, likely circa 1690-1720, has a painted leaf depicting the family of Darius prostrate before Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia.  Defeated in the Battle of Issus the wounded Persian King Darius escapes, but his mother, wife and children are captured and appeal to Alexander the victor for mercy.  When Alexander and his entourage enter the tent holding the captives, Darius’ mother mistakes Alexander’s friend for the King and although she is covered in confusion Alexander courteously puts her at her ease: the family are treated honourably.

The family, with servants and companions, are seen towards the left of the double paper leaf and Alexander with his friend stand before the group.  Curiously, the scene is placed within a decorative border which is not typical of fan leaves of this date, more so for those later in the 18th Century.  The reverse is painted with a multitude of scattered flowers.  The sticks are of ivory and the guards, measuring 26cm (10 1/4in), have silver pique work and an upper section inserted with tortoiseshell and mother of pearl.

A fan painted with an idyllic country scene might prolong the Summer.  This fan is French and dates to the 1750’s.  It has carved ivory sticks with the lower section, known as the gorge, designed with garden implements and a musette, a type of bagpipe used in the 18th Century, and is painted in gilt at the front and in sky blue and gilt on the reverse.  The leaf is painted with a suitor playing a lute for his charmed lover whose companion’s attention is being diverted by another suitor: the left reserve is painted with a well-dressed young man offering an apple to a young woman, who seems to wonder if she should accept it, and the right reserve displays pastoral images such as sheep, a boy daydreaming, a boat on a lake and a peasant girl. The reverse painting is of a suitor entreating a rather unsure young woman with her companion in the countryside.

For most of the second half of the 18th Century there was a school of thought advocating going back to nature and the ‘simple life’.   Images and items influenced by this thinking appeared though out the Arts and the subject painted and carved on this fan is one of them.