Quilt

This cotton quilt, created around 1810 by Favre-Petitpierre et cie, transforms a utilitarian object into a canvas for a complex narrative. Rather than being pieced together from many small scraps, this is a "whole-cloth quilt," meaning the design is printed onto a single large piece of fabric. The intricate copperplate printing technique allowed for fine lines and detailed scenes, turning the surface into a sprawling panorama of classical figures and pastoral settings. Look closely at the delicate shading and the way the artist has rendered the textures of clothing and foliage. This piece would have provided both warmth and visual storytelling, a luxurious item that brought art into the domestic sphere.