Photo of the Day

Getting locked in a floral theme I guess...

Update!

This bit of colorful floral embroidery comes from a circa 1745 court dress in the earlier mantua style. Feast your eyes on these door blocking proportions.

Botanically correct embroideries and similarly printed floral textiles were all the rage in Rococo England thus the width of this dress maximizes the opulent display of the owner's wealth and status.

Detail of back via collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78803/mantua

It amazes me that pieces like this survive, again we must thank the country house tradition where this was likely pased down and stowed in an attic. The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired it from a Christie's textiles sale in 1969 with no provenance, but photographs later surfaced showing the piece in the late 19th/early 20th century and associating it with the wedding of an Isabella Courtenay on May 14, 1744. Read the rest of the details here.

Photo of the Day

A pop of detail to start your day...

Update!

This lush marquetry (inlaid wood) panel is mounted on a French circa 1700 armoire made by court designer Andre Charles Boulle. His surname has become synonymous with rich inlays. A piece of furniture inlaid with tortoiseshell and engraved metals is known as "boullework" wether it was made in the 17th century or last Tuesday...

It is over the top but is a complete tour de force, the lower two panels in particular are what we classically know as boullework. The floral marquetry thew me for a loop as I usually associate it with Flemish tables...but I digress.

It really is amazing, especially the butterflies and detail achieved to the parakeets. When new the inlays would have been dyed in naturalistic tones.

This detail of the corner shows horn that has been flattened and painted blue to the verso and inlaid with metals. I had to make sure it wasn't lapis. Very wild, but surprisingly the pop of color works. Until next time. -AR

Photo of the Day

Not trying to stay on a sculptural theme...I just love this detail.

Update!

This lush detail is from the Fontaine du Marché-aux-Carmes in the Square Gabriel-Pierné in Paris...

The fountain was sculpted by Alexandre-Évariste Fragonard (brother of Jean-Honoré Fragonard) in 1830 for the Marché-aux-Carmes. It stayed in the Marché until 1930 when it was moved to its present location.

EUGÈNE ATGET, Fontaine, marche des Carmes, rue des Carmes: V Quartier de la Sorbonne, 1898 via Phillips de Pury & Company

Profile view via Promenade d'une fleur urbaine

The single herm is composed of bust with two faces dedicated to commerce and abundance. It is very stark and commanding in its present location which is more about tranquility and open space...

Photo of the Day

Today's installment takes a more classical approach...

Updated!

May I present the figure of the River God from the Parthenon in Athens....presently located at the British Museum in London. To keep things light I won't go into Lord Elgin and the controversy of how the Parthenon marbles made there way to England, you can read that story here.

Detail of the River God facing toward the remnant of Hermes. The detail I shot reflects the surface imperfections that have resulted in another intriguing visual layer to these works...you have to love the romantic nature of a ruin.

The back of the River God... I remember in art school how the professor went on a tear bout the level of finish the statues have considering they were to be viewed from from a great distance and the backs were never to be seen once installed on the pediment. I must say it is amazing to see in person. There was no need to finish the back of this figure so perfectly.

Backs of the other west pediment figures.

The "wet drapery" clad figures of Hestia, Dione and Aphrodite. The fabric defies logic but to perfection...at once so rippled and massed and yet sheer and clingy.

Last but not least the haunting head of the the horse Selene.

Photo of the Day

I encountered this beauty at an exhibition in Paris. Any guesses?

This lacquer detail is derived from a chic little side cabinet designed by Paul Follot ca. 1920.

Detail

The cabinet came from a rare early 1920s home that was decorated by Follot from stem to stern. When I heard that it was stamped the connoisseur in me could not resist....I had to flip it over. With the number of deco fakes around it is always great to inspect a period stamp on a fully documented piece.

The cabinet in-situ ca. 1922 via Camard

The interior was published in Mobilier et Decoration in 1922. Note the cabinet is at the extreme right and that the piano at left has the same rose decoration. Follot is not an iconic name but he is rather important maker from the period when the early modernist movement transitioned into fully realized art deco.

Photo of the Day

Now this one is a bit obscure, but I love it. Any takers?

UPDATE!

Any fans of the Tudors might have had an idea about this one. It is a circa 1500 English court collar chain.

Chains of this sort became popular in the English court starting in the 14th century and often carried a pendant that indicated a particular allegiance or membership. I first became interested in the S-linked chains when I first encountered Hans Holbein (the younger's) hauntingly realistic portrait of Sir Thomas Moore at the Frick Collection. View it in person if you can. It is amazing.

Hans Holbein, the younger, Portrait of Sir Thomas Moore via Google Art Project

Detail of Moore's Chain via Google Art Project

Photo of the Day

Not such a severe crop on this one. Do you know where it is? I love stolen moments like this... the play of light...it really transports you.

UPDATE!

Well Lord Cowell nailed it (thanks for the comment). If you have not seen his lush blog you can find it here. It is indeed a detail from the corner of the Grand Salon in the Napoleon III Apartments in the Louvre.

My work trips usually leave me with downtime on odd weekdays. These are the best times to slip into venerable institutions to have a little quiet time in a great space. Below is a view a small reception off the main hall.

This was a great morning....good early spring light. The firm Virtual Sweden has done an excellent virtual tour of the Grand Salon, and while filled with people, it is truly amazing. Be sure to pan up to take in the ceiling...astounding. Until tomorrow. -AR