Aurora and the Hours with the Chariot of the Sun

Classical mythology inspired many 18th-century fans. This one carries the image of ‘Aurora and the Hours with the Chariot of the Sun’. It is based on a fresco by Guido Reni from the Casino Rospigliosi in Rome, painted in 1614. The artist has faithfully translated the large scale of Reni's painting and delicately reproduced it on the fan leaf. The result demonstrates the Italian genius for fine fan painting using the pointillist (dots of colour) technique. You can see the dramatic sculptural form, exaggerated movement and gesture associated with Baroque painting even in this reduced scale.