Embroidered Panel (Mars)

The design on this silk panel is a fanciful combination of classical decorative motifs worked in silk thread, silk appliqués, and watercolor on a white silk background. The arched top is filled by a fantailed peacock executed in rich colors; the center of the panel is dominated by an architectural pavilion. This classically inspired pavillion provides a stage for a golden bronze sculpture of the god Mars, identified by his helmet, shield, and spears. The design for the panel has been attributed to the well known French designer Jean-Démosthène Dugourc based on a drawing found in the archives of the prestigious silk firm of Camille Pernon in Lyon, France. The panel reflects Dugourc's interest in the art and architecture of classical antiquity, an aesthetic taste which meshed well with the Empire style promoted by Napoleon during the time of the panel's production.