Canivet Papier Découpé 17th Century Pieta Medallion By Mignard

Very large "Canivet" cutout, made with a knife and glued to a blackened oak board, late 17th or early 18th century.

The canivet is a particular type of pious or holy image from Christian iconography. The whole image is treated (openwork) to imitate lace. This type of image, very much in vogue in the 17th and 18th centuries, was imitated from the 19th century onwards, with mechanically produced, cut and embossed canivets.

Canivets are so-called "convent work" made by religious orders in cloisters or by pious women. They were often offered in gratitude to the orders' donors.In a central oval escutcheon, framed by cartouches and crowned, is an engraving representing a Pieta, the original of which is by the painter Pierre Mignard (1612-1695) for the chapel of Monsieur, the King's brother at the Château de St-Cloud. The image was engraved by Duflos (1665-1727).

All around, a rich ornamentation of foliage and foliate scrolls, under a large pavilion composed of a canopy embellished with draperies held in place by cords. These end in customary tassels. Just below the central medallion is a Maltese cross. At the bottom, a frieze depicts birds alternating with flower-filled vases.

Panel size: 36.2 x 44.4 cmDamage and missing parts, old restorations.
Antique gilded wood frame.