Panel 1745 - 1755

This marquetry panel by Jacques de Lajoüe, a prominent French artist of the Rococo period, depicts an idealized outdoor setting. Created between 1745 and 1755, the intricate design features a grand, architectural space with a fountain at its center and a checkered floor that extends into a large garden. The figures are dressed in elaborate costumes and are engaged in leisurely activities, suggesting the elegant social life of the aristocracy. This exquisite piece, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases de Lajoüe's mastery in marquetry, a technique involving the art of inlaying different woods to create intricate patterns and images.