Classical mythology inspired many 18th-century fans. The standard of painting on the leaf was often very high, as you can see in this example of 'Venus interceding with Jupiter’. It demonstrates all the dramatic characteristics of Baroque painting, with theatrical gestures, intense colours and exaggerated effects of light. The fan sticks are of equally good quality. They are very delicately carved and pierced with painted cartouches and inlay of mother-of-pearl. The artist has painted the reverse of the leaf with another popular 18th-century fan subject – a Chinoiserie scene.