Not currently on display at the V&A

The Toilette of Venus

Fan
1690-1710 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
France (made)

The toilette of Venus was a popular subject for fans in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The scene shows the goddess getting dressed and surrounded by attendants. In this example the artist has set the scene, rather improbably, in a landscape beside a lake. The Goddess of Love is attended by a group of putti and ladies wearing fashionable dress. The fan has a finely painted leaf but plain ivory sticks. It is an example of a good-quality fan of the period.


Object details

Categories
Accessories
Access_to_Images 2003
Fans
SCRAN
Object type
Fan
TitleThe Toilette of Venus (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Gouache on vellum, with ivory sticks and guards
Vellum
Ivory
Gouache
Painting (Image-Making)
Brief description
Folding fan, 1670-1710, French; paper painted with The Toilette of Venus
Physical description
Folding fan of vellum, with ivory sticks and guards, painted with The Toilette of Venus in gouache. The scene shows the goddess getting dressed and surrounded by attendants in a landscape beside a lake
Dimensions
  • Guards length: 27.6cm (Note: measurement converted from department register)
  • Open width: 41.9cm (Note: measurement converted from department register)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Emily Beauclerk
Subject depicted
Venus
Summary
The toilette of Venus was a popular subject for fans in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The scene shows the goddess getting dressed and surrounded by attendants. In this example the artist has set the scene, rather improbably, in a landscape beside a lake. The Goddess of Love is attended by a group of putti and ladies wearing fashionable dress. The fan has a finely painted leaf but plain ivory sticks. It is an example of a good-quality fan of the period.
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.162-1920

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Record createdDecember 11, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O87115/the-toilette-of-venus-fan-unknown/
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