ticketsMember | Make a donation
English

Verdures du Vatican (set of two)

Manufactory Camille Pernon French
ca. 1799
Not on view
In terms of both design and technique these wall panels exemplify the highest quality furnishing textiles of the late eighteenth century. Part of a major decorative commission executed by Jean Démosthène Dugourc, they were intended to decorate the Billiard Room of the Casita del Labrador in Aranjuez, the rural pleasure palace built for King Charles IV of Spain between 1791 and 1803. The panels were woven by Camille Pernon, premier producer of luxury silks in Lyon. The central embroidered landscapes, based on paintings of the countryside surrounding Arunjuez, were probably applied after the panels were delivered to Spain.

Dugourc, who was raised at Versailles, was named dessinateur du Garde-Meuble de la Couronne in 1784. From 1786 he also worked for the decoration of a number of rooms at the Casita del Labrador. These panels are a strong statement of his eclectic use of motifs, in this case taken from Raphael's decorations for the Vatican Loggia, which were in turn inspired by Roman wall paintings. These two unused panels in pristine condition convey the daring color of Dugourc's scheme in a way that the faded panels preserved in situ at Aranjuez cannot.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Verdures du Vatican (set of two)
  • Designer: Jean Démosthène Dugourc (French, Versailles 1749–1825 Paris)
  • Manufactory: Camille Pernon (French, 1753–1808)
  • Date: ca. 1799
  • Culture: French, Lyon
  • Medium: Woven silk and metal thread with applied silk and chenille embroidery
  • Dimensions: Overall (Panel A): 105 1/2 x 29 in., 70lb. (268 x 73.7 cm, 31.7518kg)
    Overall (Panel B): 114 3/4 x 26 1/4 in., 80lb. (291.5 x 66.7 cm, 36.2878kg)
  • Classifications: Textiles-Woven, Textiles-Embroidered
  • Credit Line: Acquisitions Fund, 2006
  • Object Number: 2006.519a, b
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Part of a chair cover, Jean Démosthène Dugourc French, Silk, French, Lyons
Part of a chair cover
Jean Démosthène Dugourc
ca. 1797
"Verdures du Vatican", Jean Démosthène Dugourc French, Silk, French, Lyons
"Verdures du Vatican"
Jean Démosthène Dugourc
Maison Pernon
ca. 1790
Pair of wall panels, Jean Démosthène Dugourc French, Silk and metal thread on silk, French
Pair of wall panels
Jean Démosthène Dugourc
Jean François Bony
1800–1810
Part of a chair cover, Jean Démosthène Dugourc French, Silk, brocaded, French, Lyons
Part of a chair cover
Jean Démosthène Dugourc
ca. 1797
L'Autel, Jean Démosthène Dugourc French, Silk, French, Lyons
L'Autel
Jean Démosthène Dugourc
Maison Pernon
ca. 1780–1800

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 14

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.