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French to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / Historical tapestries
French term or phrase:reposer sur des pieds (here)
In a description of 17th-century French tapestries made in the Beauvais factory in 1689, describing artistic composition. Context: "Le décor de ces tapisseries fait échos aux fêtes royales et spectacles qui se déroulaient dans les jardins de Versailles sous Louis XIV. En effet, jusque dans la composition on peut observer que les décors **reposent sur des pieds** rappelant leur caractère éphémère et mobile." "Decors" I presume refers to the setting of the tapestry picture, but how can that be resting on feet? Is it scenery (as on web page https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O124918/tapestry-monnoyer... Thanks in advance for any help.
"roulette", in Dictionnaire universel de Furetière, publié en 1690: "Petite rouë qui supporte un fardeau, qui le fait rouler. Les canons des vaisseaux sont posez sur des roulettes. ROULETTE, est aussi une petite couchette qui roule sur des rouës pour la transporter & cacher, quand on veut. Un mary qui couche dans la roulette, tandis que sa femme couche au grand lit, est un grand sot." ( https://dictionnaire.lerobert.com/definition/roulette )
Yes, there are many different meanings for roulette, one being an odd wheelchair contraption in which Louis XIV was wheeled about Versailles, presumably when old, fat and gouty.
The main point being, however, that that V&A photo confirms all we need to know: considered in combination with the ST it is abundantly clear that these scenery elements are on attached small wheels or castors (i.e. possibly of a non-swivelling kind), which enable the elements to be shifted quickly (éphémère, mobile) and with much less effort than if you have to lift them, something which spectacular live entertainment (which Louis XIV loved) requires.
Here's a slightly intriguing thing (for we language nerds): 'caster/or: "small wheel and swivel attached to the leg of a piece of furniture," 1748, agent noun from cast (v.) in the old sense of "turn." Also sometimes castor.' ( https://www.etymonline.com/word/caster#etymonline_v_34260 ). Intriguing, because 1748 is not TOO long after these scenic elements are said to have been built, under Louis XIV (died 1715). I cited a website ( https://phswire.com/wire/the-history-of-casters/ ) where it says castors (as a concept) have been around for many centuries.
The equivalent FR word is, normally, roulette. I have tried looking for the earliest occurrence of that word, but FR doesn't have as many resources on the InterOuèbbe, obviously. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if it was Louis XIV's minions who coined it for this precise purpose.
And it is a shame that the ST didn't use that word, since (in my view) it would have made things a lot clearer. Can it be justifiable to translate pieds as "castors"? Given that "(generic) feet" do not "[rappellent le] caractère éphémère et mobile [des décors]" in any sense whatsoever.
Ooops, there's no trolling going on here. Please stick to the substantive question and challenge, if applicable, on rational grounds. Finally it will be up to the asker to decide what she thinks the phrase means. I have given what I believe to be the correct answer.
The question asked here is ‘reposer sur des pieds”. Unless you have a suggestion for the Asker, I’m afraid your trolling is just wasting everyone’s time.
That structure simply isn't a "large textile" or a "painted panel". You can see the back wall through it (same colour as either side of the scenery structure).
I feel my confidence about this growing to almost the proportions of Helen's, when I point to the fact that "scenery" is also fitting when the text starts talking of "leur caractère éphémère et mobile". Nothing more ephemeral (or mobile for that matter) than stage scenery: "... shall dissolve And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind."
... which, incidentally, also tends to favour the choice of "casters". This mobile scenery is indeed only mobile by virtue of the fact that the things which support it are able to move, i.e. not merely generic "feet".
Conversely, there is in fact no specific reference to exotic animals in the ST, only fêtes and spectacles. The V&A link is useful but not the text we have to try and understand.
It is either a large textile or painted panel within an elaborate frame. It was used to give a frame/backdrop to the display of exotic animals, as it clearly says in the V&A text.
OK... got it now! The thingy within the image has thingies which look remarkably like the casters from my Granny's old 1950s mahogany sideboards!
BUT ... I still see no sign whatsoever of a "panel". That structure behind the elephant is what it is SAID to be in the ST, to wit décors, EN scenery. Notice that the back wall of the room here appears to be visible through the structure of the scenery. Whereas a "panel" is usually going to be "solid" (although some panels may have some kind of "openwork"). That is not a panel.
It is the 'scenic element' within the picture — the pillars and bits and bobs — that is quite clearly standing on feet. Thise is presumbly depicting bits of 'scenery' placed in the real landscape (here, on a terrace, perhaps) to act as an attractive setting to frame their picnic or whatever entertainment was being presented. Judging by the siez of the chap leading it, that's actually a fairly baby elephant, I'd say!
Click on the image from Helen’s link to zoom/enlarge it. Look closely along the bottom of the device in the image and you’ll spot at least 8 roundish objects that are clearly shaped like casters. In this image at least, the tapestry/backdrop/screen is clearly being moved along the ground, accompanied by an elephant to provide an idea of its size.
I've gone to that V&A link and zoomed in... I can't see any sign of "casters" or "feet". The accompanying V&A text says absolutely nothing about casters or feet, or how the tapestry is presented (hung? on a wall? on a frame?). All it says is "The border is imitating a gilded frame with gadrooning".
I can't see any evidence of a "decorative panels" ... where do you get this idea/conviction from? These appear to be tapestries, not panels.
Also your translation appears to gloss over/ignore something in the ST: what are we to make of "jusque dans la composition on peut observer que les décors reposent sur des pieds". This suggests that it is actually something intrinsic to the scene or image depicted, not a physical add-on (to some putative "panel").
Yes, I have done so now from my laptop. I had previously only checked it from my phone and saw only the downward-facing feet, but, for some reason, not the casters ;-) I presume the V&A knows what it is talking about. I imagine these panels were rolled into place and then secured for the purpose of static displays.
(use "Zoom" button) ) it becomes very clear that the device is being rolled along on what can only be described as a set of at least 8 visible casters - so this particular piece of scenery is not static. As far as I remember, the backdrop is just one of the many possible pieces of scenery used in any production. But as you already said, this isn't the topic of the question!
Whoever wrote the text went for obfuscation, that's for sure, if they are on casters. I would either say, 'on casters' or 'freestanding', as I previously suggested.
Probably because you can see the image more clearly than anyone else, me included! The V&A page says they were used for static displays of animals and birds. So backdrop might be ok, but scenery definitely not. But this isn't actually the question we are meant to be answering!
that the piece of scenery depicted in the link is in fact being transported on casters (small wheels). It is definitely scenery (probably, although not necessarily, a backdrop), being used for one of the many outdoor performances/tableaux such as those organised by Marie-Antoinette, etc. You do need to enlarge the image to see that it is standing on casters.
I would make a distinction between 'scenery' (generally used for a performance of some kind), or 'backdrops' (again used for some kind of performance or tableau vivant), and 'decorative panels' as I suggest, which is more neutral. These panels are being used to delineate the space within which a garden party is taking place. (I know this is not the question being asked directly here, but we're discussing it anyway ;-))
It sounds like it’s a pun on pied (foot), which alludes to something transitory, a fleeting moment, but also means plinth, on which the columns and backdrop, the scenery, rests. It works in French, but not so well in English.
it looks like an enormous (c.f., the size of the elephant) piece of scenery (a backdrop?) being transported on legs with casters. This fits in with the "spectacles qui se déroulaient dans les jardins de Versailles"
I'm no expert, but I'm not sure it matters too much whether you use "feet" or "legs", although my instinct would be to opt for "legs" here!