Folding Fan with Representation of a Gothic Revival Arcade, perhaps a Souvenir of Stowe

Unknown

ca. 1820 · Paper, paint, gilt, ivory · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

A glimpse of lush treetops suggests a landscape garden setting. Indeed, this fan might be a celebration of an actual garden, Stowe in Buckinghamshire. The pointed arches, trefoils and inventive tracery all recall its Gothick 'Temple of Liberty', designed by James Gibbs, completed in 1741. The bridge-like composition, playing upon the fan's format, in turn evokes Stowe's much-admired Palladian Bridge, whose sun-filled arcade had to be crossed to reach the Temple beyond. Wildly popular with society visitors from the 1750s into the Victorian period, this may be a souvenir fan, part of the same tradition as the Chiswick Villa fan (90.2.27) and fans with Scenes of Vesuvius (14.73, 63.90.26, 63.90.73) also in The Met's collection.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1820

Medium

Paper, paint, gilt, ivory

Culture

British

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Thomas Hunt, 1933