Description
The word decoupage comes from Middle French “decouper”, meaning to cut out or cut from something. Artisans in Florence, Italy have produced decorative objects using decoupage techniques since the 18th century, but it was during the 18th and 19th centuries that Europeans fell in love with this technique and decoupage enjoyed a beautiful renaissance. The delicate art of decoupage was a popular pastime among well-to-do ladies — a woman was tres chic only if she knew how to wield a pair of scissors. Mary Delaney, Madame de Pompadour, Beau Brummel, Queen Charlotte (and her granddaughter, the later-to-be-crowned Queen Victoria), and even Lord Byron were all aristocratic admirers of this art. And it’s said that no artwork was safe from Marie Antoinette and her ladies — they would spend idle hours cutting up original works by famous French painters Francois Boucher, Jean-Antoine Watteau, and Jean-Honore Fragonard.
Each print has been carefully removed from their original backing paper and re-attached using new laid paper. The original backing papers for each print have been conserved and are included in the sale. All colouring is original to the print.
