“Stop to admire this exquisite silk fragment, a stunning example of 18th-century French textile artistry. Its intricate design and luxurious material reveal the opulence of Rococo fashion and interiors, inviting you to imagine the world it once graced.”
This fragment of woven silk, created around 1760, offers a glimpse into the luxurious textiles that adorned European interiors and fashion during the Rococo period. Its intricate design, featuring delicate floral motifs and ribbons, is a testament to the sophisticated weaving techniques of the era. The silk itself would have shimmered with subtle variations in light, a characteristic highly prized for its ability to enhance the visual depth of such elaborate patterns. This piece likely served as part of an opulent furnishing, perhaps a wall hanging, upholstery, or an article of high-fashion clothing, reflecting the desire for beauty and refinement in 18th-century aristocratic taste. Philippe de la Salle, active in Lyon, France, was a prominent textile designer of this period, known for his innovative use of color and complex patterns that often mimicked painted scenes.
- Artist
- Philippe de la Salle
- Date
- 1760
- Medium
- Silk
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- L. 24 x W. 15 inches (61.0 x 38.1 cm)
- Collection
- European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
- Culture
- French, Lyons
- Credit line
- Rogers Fund, 1938
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Observe the delicate interplay of light and shadow created by the silk's weave.
Look closely at the finely detailed floral sprays and trailing ribbons.
Notice the subtle shifts in color that give the pattern a three-dimensional quality.
Consider the scale of the pattern, designed for grand settings or garments.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Fragment of woven silk — 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
Upholstery passementerie
1750 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Length of upholstery silk
1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Panel of upholstery silk
1765 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Woven silk upholstery for a chair
1765 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Catherine II of Russia
1766 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Border of woven silk
1770 · The Metropolitan 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
Portrait of a Lady
John Smart of Ipswich · 1773 · Yale Center for British Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Medal cabinet
William Vile · 1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Hot milk jug
Höchst Manufactory · 1770 · 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
John Jehu, L'Inghilterra
James Bretherton · 1772 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
A young girl walks towards the left with one infant on her shoulder and holding another small child's hand, while two children walk at right with a torch and a basket
Luca Cambiaso · 1775 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Bouillon bowl with cover
Höchster Porzellan-Manufaktur · 1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Descent of the Holy Ghost
Stefano Mulinari · 1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Landscape
William Wooller · 1763 · Cleveland Museum of Art
