Caparison 1750 - 1785

This "Caparison," made by Aubusson, now residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, presents a fascinating interplay of form and heraldic symbolism. The work's semi-circular shape and relatively muted palette create a sense of formal reserve, even as the vibrant heraldic elements command attention. The structure of the Caparison is immediately striking. The careful arrangement of coats of arms, floral garlands, and avian figures suggests a symbolic vocabulary deeply embedded in the socio-political context of its time. One can read the visual lexicon here as a structured language—a semiotic system—through which power and identity were communicated and reinforced. The composition destabilizes traditional notions of heraldry by softening the hard lines. Ultimately, the formal qualities of the Caparison—its shape, texture, and structured imagery—serve not merely as aesthetic choices but as carriers of profound cultural meaning. This piece invites us to consider how visual elements function within a larger discourse of power, representation, and artistic interpretation.