Length of upholstery silk

Art Historical Context

This exquisite length of upholstery silk, woven by the renowned Philippe de Lasalle in Lyons France, between 1771 and 1772, exemplifies the pinnacle of 18th-century French textile artistry. Measuring 32 by 22 inches—the full loom width—this vibrant piece was designed for luxurious furnishings, reflecting the opulence of pre-Revolutionary aristocratic interiors. De Lasalle, a master weaver from the epicenter of Europe's silk trade, crafted it using intricate Jacquard-like techniques on a drawloom, blending fine silk threads into a tapestry of playful motifs: frolicsome boys amid blooming flowers, leafy trees, and woven wreaths. The design captures the Rococo spirit's lingering joyfulness transitioning toward Neoclassicism, with its lively figures and naturalistic flora evoking pastoral fantasies. Lyons silks like this were status symbols, exported across Europe and adorning Versailles chandeliers and salon settees. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1938, this textile now graces The Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, offering a tactile glimpse into the craftsmanship that defined French luxury. Imagine the soft sheen under candlelight, whispering tales of 18th-century elegance!

About the Artist

Philippe de Lasalle · 1723–1804

Philippe de Lasalle (1723–1804) was born on September 2 in the small town of Seyssel in the Ain department of France, the son of a local finance official. Orphaned at just one year old, he was raised by relatives and moved to Lyon at age fourteen to live with an uncle. There, he began his artistic training as an apprentice to the painter Daniel Sarrabat, a prominent Lyonnais figure known for instr...