Statue robe
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
L. 33 1/2 x W. 33 inches (85.1 x 83.8 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1917
Accession Number
17.119.1
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Statue Robe*, crafted in 18th-century France by an unknown artist, is a masterful example of embroidered silk textiles from the opulent Rococo era. 33½ x 33 inches, this square garment was designed to drape religious statues—likely the Virgin Mary or a saint—in churches, a cherished Catholic tradition that blended devotion with lavish artistry. Its shimmering silk fabric, adorned with intricate embroidery of flowers and leaves, the period's fascination with nature's abundance and botanical motifs, evoking the gardens of Versailles. The robe's creation showcases advanced French...