"Venus à sa Toilette" — Favre-Petitpierre et cie

ABOUT THIS WORK

In this charming textile, Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, sits at her dressing table, attended by a pair of winged putti. The scene is rendered in a delicate monochrome, characteristic of copperplate printing on cotton, which allowed for fine lines and subtle shading. One putto holds a mirror for Venus while another offers a string of pearls, emphasizing the goddess's allure and the ritual of beautification. This fabric, produced by Favre-Petitpierre et cie around 1770, reflects the Rococo era's fascination with classical mythology presented in intimate, playful settings. It would have adorned a domestic interior, bringing a touch of refined elegance and mythological fantasy into everyday life. The repeating pattern, though not fully visible here, suggests a continuous narrative of divine grace and leisurely luxury.

DETAILS

Artist: Favre-Petitpierre et cie
Date: 1770
Medium: Cotton
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dimensions: L. 89 x W. 50 1/2 inches 226.1 x 128.3 cm
Collection: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Culture: French, Nantes
Credit line: Rogers Fund, 1952

LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

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01

Venus under the canopy

At the center, a reclining woman is attended by winged children beneath an arch hung with heavy drapery. Given the title, she is most likely Venus at her toilette.

1 of 4 on the painting

02

Draped arch

Follow the swag of curtain hanging from the ornate arch. It frames the goddess and is the tallest form, anchoring the whole pattern.

2 of 4 on the painting

03

Women at the altar

Two standing women and a seated one gather around a drum-shaped pedestal topped with flowers. One reaches toward the top as if placing or taking something, so it reads as a ritual or offering scene.

3 of 4 on the painting

04Whole painting

Single-color copperplate

The whole scene is printed in a single red on cream cotton. Shading comes from fine hatching and dots, much like an engraving, rather than from extra colors.

05

Winged figures in clouds

At the top center, winged figures tangle together on a mound of billowing cloud. At the left, a reclining figure rests on a similar cloud bank. These loose, dreamy groups give the cloth a mythic, romantic feel.

4 of 4 on the painting

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THE ARTIST