de Villeclair
Lady’s Work Bag or Indispensable
1789
Physical Qualities
Silk, paint, 12-5/8 x 16-3/4 in.(32.1 x 42.5 cm.)
Credit Line
The Cone Collection, formed by Dr. Claribel Cone and Miss Etta Cone of Baltimore, Maryland
Object Number
1950.1990.5
A rectangular white silk taffeta bag with silk ribbon drawstring. The obverse bears a painted floral wreath of roses, violas, morning glories, tulips and other mixed flowers emerging from a basket and topped by paired lovebirds. The wreath encircles a musical trophy containing guitars, a tambourine, horns, a flute, and some musical scores as well as a quill of arrows and a burning torch. The signature of the artist De Villeclair appears below the basket written in ink. A swag of cornflowers held by a pair of pink bowknots frames the bag's top and sides, and two butterflies, one perched on a sprig of flowers, fill the lower sections. The reverse bears a monogram 'M' or possibly a superimposed 'M' and 'A' rendered in rosebuds and vines, surmounted by a crown of the same flowers and two lovebirds, and surrounded by a garland of cornflowers and swags of mixed flowers held in place with bowknots. The seam at the top, which closes the casing through which the drawstring passes, is decorated with a painted pink and green vine.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1950; Etta Cone.
William R. Johnston, The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, 'European Art at the Time of the Revolution,' 1976, see catalogue reference below.
Anita Jones, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, 'Floral Designs in Textiles,' July 25 - November 12, 1989, no catalogue.
Anita Jones, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, 'Floral Designs in Textiles,' July 25 - November 12, 1989, no catalogue.
William R. Johnston, 'European Art at the Time of the Revolution,' Maryland Heritage: Five Baltimore Institutions Celebrate the American Bicentennial, Ed. John B. Boles, Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society, 1976, cat. # 75, p. 44, illus.
Inscribed: Signed by hand in ink on obverse below painted basket: "de Villeclair, inv. et Pinxit." [Note: last word difficult to read due to inkstain.] Monogram painted as part of design on obverse: "M" or "M A" Hand written in ink on music score depicted within trophy: "Mineur/ le ber-gere le plus insensible/ de ses yeux voyant la beau-/ té coutre eux sent qu'il est tres/ possible de deffendre sa li/ berté qui pourait charmer cet-/te belle quel berger touchera son coeur./ La si celoit la plus fidele amour/ amour je serois le Vainqueur [Aje?]"