A view of the church of St Peter's in Rome fills the leaf of this fan. The artist has fitted its curving colonnades to the shape of the fan leaf. Many Britons made 'the Grand Tour' of Europe during the period 1750 to 1790. Rome was an important destination and Grand Tourists often bought fans showing views of the city as souvenirs. The topographical treatment of the image on the fan leaf contrasts with the decoration of the ivory sticks. These are carved with fashionable Chinoiserie scenes, which are European interpretations of oriental ornament.

Fan of gouache painted on vellum, with carved and pierced ivory sticks, and carved and inlaid ivory guards, with pink foil behind. Painted with a view of St Peter's in Rome. The reverse of the fan shows a building, with the word 'Vatican' inked at one edge

Rome (made)

1770-1780 (made)

Gouache painted on vellum, carved, inlaid and pierced ivory

Length: 28 cm length of guard, Width: 46 cm, Length: 28 cm closed, Width: 3 cm closed, Depth: 2 cm closed

Descriptive line

Fan of gouache painted on vellum, with carved and pierced ivory sticks, Rome, 1770-1780
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