Fan

Some mid 18th-century fans are miniature versions of paintings by well-known landscape artists. The work of Joseph Vernet inspired this particular example. He was famous for his harbour scenes, and his paintings characteristically show groups of fishermen and fishing boats. The painter of the fan leaf has faithfully reproduced Vernet’s style and composition. The wide, closely spaced ivory sticks are typical of the 1750s. The scene carved on the guardsticks shows a gentleman talking to a cherub. As usual, the image on the sticks bears no relation to that on the leaf. This is because each part of the fan was usually designed by different artists and made separately.