Design for a Gilt Leather Panel 1655 - 1665

This is an anonymous design for a gilt leather panel. It’s difficult to say precisely when it was made, but we can use its visual elements to orient ourselves in a specific cultural and institutional moment. The design features cupids cavorting amidst a welter of flowers, fruits, and birds. It is not surprising to find such imagery in early modern Europe, as there was an increasing demand for decorative arts during this period, and the fashion for classically-inspired motifs reflected the desire of elites to associate themselves with the cultural prestige of the ancient world. This design may have been produced in a workshop that specialized in creating patterns for artisans to follow. By examining trade records and guild archives from the time, historians can piece together information about the social conditions that enabled such designs to be made and circulated. Understanding this artwork requires us to consider the market for luxury goods, and the social hierarchies of the time.