History of the FanRhead, G. Woolliscroft (George Woolliscroft)
History
History of the Fan
Rhead, G. Woolliscroft (George Woolliscroft)
Fans
On a later fan, the king is represented as Phœbus descending from his
chariot, holding in his hand the mirror of truth to the assembled court
beauties, on whose countenances fear, alarm, and doubt appear. A figure
on the right (Louise de la Vallière) opens her arms eagerly to receive
him.
The king also appears as Endymion sleeping on Mount Latmos. La
Vallière, in the character of Diana, is alighting from her chariot
and contemplating the beautiful shepherd. A figure of Spring scatters
flowers. In the background two attendants of the goddess; _c._ 1660.
Mr. Robert Walker in his sale catalogue (1882) suggests that these two
fans, the sticks of which have perished and have been replaced by those
of old English workmanship, were painted for the Duchess de la Vallière
in the early time of her attendance at the court of Anne of Austria.
She is said to have formed a real and virtuous attachment to the king.
A fan mount in the Schreiber collection, also belonging to the earlier
years of the reign of Louis XIV., has for its subject the ‘Lovers’
Agency Bureau.’ In the midst of a semicircular temple, on an island
surrounded by a flowered border, is a golden statue of Cupid seated
upon a globe, bearing a banner inscribed, ‘L’Amour Avec ces traits Veut
blesser tout Le monde. Je Reigne dans les sieux Sur la terre et Sur
londe.’ Cupids are seated at a table covered with green cloth, serving
amorous couples with tablets inscribed, ‘Congé Pour Un Amant Constant:
Congé Pour Un Fidelle’; ‘Congé pour La Belle Iris.’ In front of the
table a Cupid is seated on a large crimson cushion, holding a scroll
inscribed, ‘Le Directeur Du Bureau D’amour.’ Two figures are kneeling
at the end of the table, the one holding a purse, the other a scroll
inscribed, ‘Contract De Constitution De Rente.’ In the foreground on
either side are couples who have married for money—a young man holding
a purse is accompanied by an elderly woman, and an old man who supports
himself on a crutch, accompanied by a young woman, is carrying a box
labelled ‘Bijouteri’; in both instances a Cupid follows them with a
rod for punishment. Around the island are moored ships with banners
inscribed, ‘Vous qui cherchez D’un Amoureux Desir,’ etc.
The fan leaf has been pasted on an oval panel and repainted to complete
the shape.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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