Fan Leaf
1690-1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a complete fan leaf which has been attached to a wooden backing. Fan leaves were pleated and attached to the sticks of the fan. However, this has never been mounted as a fan. It is possible that the quality of the painting meant that this has been preserved as an object in itself. The scene is copied from a sketch by the artist Guido Reni (1575-1642), a painter of popular religious works and acclaimed mythological scenes. Fan painters imitated the styles of such well known artists. Although fan painters were regarded as artisans and copyists, in this case their work has been prized. The scene depicted on the fan leaf shows the meeting of Ariadne and Bacchus, the God of Wine, on the island of Naxos. According to Greek legend, Ariadne was abandoned by Theseus on the island as she slept, and was discovered by Bacchus and made his consort.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on kid |
| Brief description | Fan leaf depicting Bacchus and Ariadne, after Guido Reni, watercolour on kid, made in Italy, 1690-1700 |
| Physical description | Unpleated fan leaf, a scene after Guido Reni depicting Bacchus and Ariadne painted in watercolour on kid. |
| Summary | This is a complete fan leaf which has been attached to a wooden backing. Fan leaves were pleated and attached to the sticks of the fan. However, this has never been mounted as a fan. It is possible that the quality of the painting meant that this has been preserved as an object in itself. The scene is copied from a sketch by the artist Guido Reni (1575-1642), a painter of popular religious works and acclaimed mythological scenes. Fan painters imitated the styles of such well known artists. Although fan painters were regarded as artisans and copyists, in this case their work has been prized. The scene depicted on the fan leaf shows the meeting of Ariadne and Bacchus, the God of Wine, on the island of Naxos. According to Greek legend, Ariadne was abandoned by Theseus on the island as she slept, and was discovered by Bacchus and made his consort. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 175-1869 |
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| Record created | July 25, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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