French
Furnishing Fabric with Figure of a Woman with Flowers, about 1675-1725
Linen tabby embroidered with polychrome wool and silk yarns , 47.3 x 55.2 cm (18 5/8 x 21 3/4 in.)
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This roundend textile piece is done in needlepoint with a reddish brown background. Its size and shape indicate that it likely functioned as a chair back. In the center, there is a full length figure of an elegantly dressed woman in a 17th century European court gown and flowing blue cape. Her tan gown is hemmed in a wide border of colorful flowers. She wears a crown of flowers and holds a rose branch, indicating she may be Flora, goddess of flowers and spring. She is surrounded by oversized, fantastical blossoms, fruits, a palm tree, and other less definable elements.
Little Salon
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.