“This isn't just a blanket; it's an 18th-century French luxury textile, a breathtaking embroidered garden in silk and satin that shows off the exquisite craftsmanship and lavish tastes of the era.”
Step closer to this extraordinary coverlet, a testament to the luxurious tastes of 18th-century France. Its surface shimmers with an intricate embroidery of satin and silk, depicting a vibrant garden scene. You'll notice delicate blossoms, intertwining vines, and perhaps even a hidden insect or two, all rendered with remarkable precision. This piece isn't just a functional textile; it's a portable landscape, designed to bring the beauty of nature indoors, likely adorning a bed or serving as a grand decorative throw in a wealthy household. The artistry here speaks to a time when textiles were considered high art, often rivaling paintings in their complexity and cost. Though the precise year is debated, this opulent work dates to the mid-18th century, a period when French design set the standard for elegance across Europe.
- Artist
- Philippe de la Salle
- Date
- 1755
- Medium
- embroidered satin and silk
- Location
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- [object Object]
- Collection
- Textiles
- Culture
- France
- Credit line
- John L. Severance Fund
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Look for the subtle variations in the silk threads that give the flowers a three-dimensional quality.
Spot the tiny, lifelike insects, almost camouflaged among the leaves and petals.
Observe the meticulous stitching, creating a rich texture that catches the light differently.
Notice how the design repeats and mirrors itself, forming a harmonious, balanced composition.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Coverlet — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Philippe de la Salle
1723–1804 · FrancePhilippe de la Salle was a master of 18th-century Lyon silk weaving, known for luxurious textiles like his 'Branche de Corail'.
Further Works by de la Salle
Design for a Lampas Silk with a Triumphal Chariot on a Cloud
1765 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Chair back
1765 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Two Pieces of Embroidery
1723 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Upholstery for a Chair Seat
1738 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Coverlet and Fragments
1755 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Coverlet Fragment
1755 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Silk Fragment
1770 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Silk Fragment, Part of Panel called "Le panier fleuri"
1770 · Cleveland Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond de la Salle: works from the same years.
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Head of a Child
Jacques-Louis David · 1768 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Portrait of Madame Anne-Jeanne Cassanéa de Mondonville, née Boucon (1708-1780)
Maurice Quentin de Latour · 1752 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Thomas Hurnard (1711/1712–1753), Mayor of Norwich (1752)
John Theodore Heins · 1754 · Norfolk Museums Collections
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Medal cabinet
William Vile · 1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Side Chair
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1750 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Hot milk jug
Höchst Manufactory · 1770 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Hunter with Hounds
Höchster Porzellan-Manufaktur · 1755 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Christ standing before an entrance to a city surrounded by apostles addressing a group of men at right
Stefano Mulinari · 1756 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Landscape
William Wooller · 1763 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
View of Ponte Lugano on the Anio, from Views of Rome
Giovanni Battista Piranesi · 1763 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Image of an Empire in Peace and Prosperity
Zhou Kun · 1745 · National Palace Museum
Same era · 1740s–1770s
the swing
Jean-Honoré Fragonard · 1767 · Wallace Collection
