Length of upholstery silk

Art Historical Context

This exquisite length of upholstery silk, created around 1770 by the renowned Lyonnais designer Philippe de Lasalle collaboration with Maison Pernon exemplifies the pinnacle of French textile artistry during the late Rococo era. Hailing from Lyon—Europe's silk-weaving capital since the 16th century—this woven silk panel measures 34¼ x 22 inches and bursts with vibrant floral motifs, a hallmark of de Lasalle's luxurious designs favored by the aristocracy for furnishings and gowns. Crafted on specialized drawlooms, the silk showcases intricate Jacquard-like techniques that allowed for richly patterned, multi-color weaves without painting or printing. These floral patterns, rendered in shimmering threads, captured the opulent naturalism of the time, blending delicate blooms with a sense of playful abundance that reflected Louis XV's courtly extravagance. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1938, this piece at the Metropolitan Museum of Art highlights Lyon's economic might and cultural export prowess on the eve of the French Revolution. It invites visitors to imagine grand salons draped in such splendor, where silk was not just fabric, but a symbol of refined elegance and technical mastery.

About the Artist

Philippe de Lasalle|Maison Pernon · 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...