Gardens of Bagatelle [Jardins de Bagatelle],  also known as English Gardens [Jardins Anglais], reflecting the fashion of the day for English gardens.

 Decor wood-block printed in 7 colors on hand-brushed blue ground.

Manufacture Joseph Dufour, Mâcon, France, ca. 1803. Designer : Pierre-Antoine Mongin (1761-1827).

3 scenes in continuity (corresponding to 2/3 of the full décor)

Mounted on linen canvas and stretchers. 

Neo-classical scenes inspired by the temple of love at Versailles Trianon for Marie Antoinette by Mique and the Chinese bridge and pagoda for the Comte d’Artois’ gardens in Bagatelle.

The figures are dressed in the fashion of the Consulat and Directoire periods, as in the engravings of Louis Philibert Debucourt (1765-1832).

This décor is important because it innovates the concept of landscapes rendered in continuous scenes, and thus is considered a precursor of the first panoramic created, also by Dufour: “Voyages of Captain Cook”, 1804.

Public Collection : One version of this décor was in the home of Captain Shepard (early XIXc.), Bath, Maine, USA- now in collection of Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Bibliography: Denys Prache, Joseph Dufour- Génie des Papiers Peints, Mare & Martin, France, 2016 (p. 111-117). 

H 5 ft 2’’ x W 3 ft. 8’’ + W 5 ft 5’’ + W 3 ft. 8’’

(H 1,56m x W 1,14m + W 1,56m + W 1,14m)