Design for a Sofa Back Cover (?) with an Ornamental Frame Containing a Large Horizontal Garland of Flowers and Leaves with Musical Instruments and a Vase, Decorated with Acanthus Leaves and Two Fleurs de Lys 1870 - 1900

This watercolor and graphite design for a sofa back cover is an invitation to imagine the domestic spaces of the past. Likely created in the 18th or 19th century, the ornamental frame teems with garlands of flowers, musical instruments, and symbols of French royalty. Though the artist’s identity is unknown, the design speaks volumes about the era’s aesthetic values and social hierarchies. The delicate floral arrangements and refined musical instruments reflect the aristocratic taste for leisure and beauty. The fleurs-de-lys are emblems of royal authority and divine right. This design, therefore, provides insight into how the elite classes curated their surroundings to reinforce their status and identity. It offers us a glimpse into a world where even the most intimate spaces were imbued with political and cultural meaning. Consider how this artwork both embodies and performs a certain vision of power, luxury and the good life.