Satyrs Jousting

Block-printed wallpaper was frequently used in Neoclassical interior decoration, and the small pin marks around the edges of this fragment reveal that it was at one time affixed to a wall. Its horizontal orientation and rectangular dimensions indicate that it was part of a border, which would have been placed near the ceiling or above the wainscot. The components of the scene, such as the lances surmounted with acorns, originate from Antique sources and are also found in Belanger's drawing for the dining room of the Bagatelle Pavilion hanging nearby. The playful image of putti-satyrs balanced astride leopards reminds the viewer that Neoclassical ornament was not restricted to academic discourse or edification but could be entertaining as well.