This late 17th-century Italian/French extended fan leaf depicts Nicolas Poussin’s ‘A Dance to the Music of Time’.Over several centuries, exquisite fan designs have graced the palms of numerous European high-born women - not merely for their cooling properties, but as status symbols and portable works of art. Catherine de Medici (1519-1589), a fan devotee, introduced these elegant accessories to the French court, where they were soon established as ‘de rigueur’. They served as a sophisticated addition to a lady''s outfit while also hiding any unsightly features, such as sores or embarrassing blemishes.The rapid growth in fan popularity led to an influx of makers and, by the end of the 17th century, it was a booming industry. The most accomplished “éventaillistes”, as they were known in France, were highly sought after, and unquestionably rather expensive. Designs were numerous, with many based on earlier paintings, as we see here. The Guild of Fan Makers were barred from paintin...