27th May, 2020 10:30 GMT/BST

Fans and Fancies - Online Only

 
Lot 4050
 

4050

Death and The Maiden: A Very Unusual Fan, the monture of plain light pink mother of pearl, the...

Death and The Maiden: A Very Unusual Fan, the monture of plain light pink mother of pearl, the coffee coloured silk satin leaf painted both sides. To the recto, a scene of a young man or prince sheltering under a large tree, taking respite from the weight of the deathly pale maiden dressed in white on his shoulder, as the Grim Reaper approaches from across a river bank, pink flamingos paddling to the background, carrying his spade, his robe belted with a cross on a chain **. To the verso, painted on a darker ginger silk, two cherubs hold flower garlands, decorating entwined initials, a green dragon and a banner beneath, dating the fan to the 11th February 1885 (or 1895), possibly in Portuguese.  One word could be a name beginning with A which would relate to one of the initials. No signature noted. Guard length 12.75 inches or 32.5cm. Together with a bone fan, 19th century, the pale pink cotton leaf painted with a gentle scene of a shepherdess being pursued by her beau. Signed Guronnet (?). The verso of plain cream cotton. Guard length 10.5 inches or 26.5cm (2)
In many great artworks, a maiden is portrayed as wearing white, with long cascading tresses, as the Grim Reaper approaches. Is the river in this depiction signifying the river Stix that the dead must cross on their way to Hades?
**An alternative offered by an FCI member is that the figure is that of a Carmelite monk wearing a brown habit and a Christian cross. The monks were known to dig graves and indeed there is one here
 
***Another alternative offered by an FCI member considers that that this scene depicts a version of  a painting by Girodet that is at the Louvre (The burial of Atala),  depicting the tragic love story of Atala or the love of two savages in the wilderness that was written by Chateaubriand (died 1848) that gave Girodet the subject of one of his most popular paintings. Set in primitive America of the 17th century, Atala is the story of a young Christian metisse who falls madly in love with Chactas, an 'Indian' whom she has saved from a death sentence.  Taken in by a missionary, Father Aubry, after a long 'walkabout' the young lovers cannot live out their passion.  Trapped by the vow made to her mother to dedicate herself to religion, Atala chooses suicide in order to avoid succumbing to her passion, despite Chactas' willingness to convert so as to be able to marry her. 

Sold for £190
Estimated at £80 - £120


 

. The first fan has repairs on the shoulder to both guards. A sliver of mop is missing near the top of the upper guard. One gorge stick is loose from the rib, a repair having failed, and the lower edge of the leaf is a little stained, probably from attempts to secure the gorge sticks. Similar residue is apparent here and there near the side and top edges. The smaller fan is sound, save for loss to the top border binding the layers together.

 


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Auction: Fans and Fancies - Online Only, 27th May, 2020

Fans and Fancies - Online Only

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