Fan - Feast of Agriculture

On the leaf—which is framed at the top with large spangles, on the two sides with smaller ones, and on the bottom with smaller ones yet—sits a young female figure in a triumphal car drawn by a lion. At the front of the vehicle—on the footboard—is an enormous palm. Behind the lady a sheaf of wheat and cornflowers fills the inside of the vehicle. The young lady's face is made of painted ivory in her hair is a wreath made of cornflowers. Beside the vehicle fruits and flowers gush forth from a cornucopia, and above them a butterfly hovers. On the back of the lion pulling the car rides Amor. On the left side of the leaf sunbeams from behind a cloud greet the arrivals. With the exception of just a few details, almost every part of the composition is covered with spangles. The sticks are embellished with festoons and flowers. In all probability this was one of the fans made for the La fete de I'Agriculture (The Celebration of Agriculture) held in Paris in 1798. The festival is mentioned in. A similar, albeit more modestly executed, fan is held by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Similar from the point of view of technique are MAA inv. nos. 59.891 and 59.898 (Cat. Nos. 85 and 86.) Earlier mistakenly exhibited as a Spanish fan.