"La Maison Brulante"

Step into a dramatic moment from the late 18th century with Favre-Petitpierre et cie's "La Maison Brulante" (The Burning House). This compelling cotton furnishing fabric, created around 1780, captures a scene of intense emotion and narrative power. Favre-Petitpierre et cie, also known as Petitpierre et compagnie, was a prominent producer of copperplate and roller-printed textiles, renowned for their detailed narrative scenes. While many of their works, like "Le Bain d'Amour" or "Achille reconnu par Ullysse," drew from classical mythology or romantic themes, "La Maison Brulante" presents a more immediate and harrowing event. The artwork exemplifies the company's mastery in translating complex imagery onto fabric, often transforming everyday scenes or dramatic events into decorative yet thought-provoking pieces for the home. This piece, like others in the Met's collection such as "La Foire du Caire," showcases the firm's ability to imbue domestic textiles with engaging stories, making functional items into conversation starters and artistic statements.