Boucher's Daughter, Jeanne Elisabeth Victoire Deshays
Original title: Boucher's Daughter, Jeanne Elisabeth Victoire Deshays
kurzbeschreibung
Jeanne Elisabeth Victoire Deshays, the daughter of François Boucher, appears in this portrait of 1769. The likeness was carried out as embroidery in wool and silk, worked at a density of 25 warp threads per inch. We see a young woman with elaborately dressed hair and a richly ornamented gown, set against a dark blue ground.
Description
Her hair is piled up in a complicated coiffure and crowned by a large, many-coloured bow. At the shoulder the dress carries a floral motif, and a red stripe runs along the neckline. Blues, pinks and whites govern the palette. Light entering from the side models the contours and brings out the surfaces of fabric and hair. A flat dark blue background pushes the figure forward into view.
Context
Boucher made the model in 1769, shortly before his death. The embroidery was probably worked in a workshop after a painting or design by the artist. It represents his daughter Jeanne Elisabeth Victoire Deshays, wife of the painter Jean-Baptiste Deshays. Textile portraits of this kind were prized in the eighteenth century as reproductions and helped circulate portraits among aristocratic circles.
Impact
The eye is caught at once by the side lighting, which gives the portrait sculptural depth and an intimate, almost ceremonial mood. The needlework fascinates through its precision in detail and the bright colours characteristic of the Rococo. Against the dark background the sitter's presence gains additional weight.
Technique
Wool and silk are combined on a support with 25 warp threads per inch, which permits a particularly fine rendering. Silken passages shine while woollen areas stay matte, producing a subtle contrast of materials. This method allows patterns and colour transitions to be reproduced with great precision, of the kind also familiar from the painting of the period.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)