THE STYLE OF LOUIS XVI. 



439 



420. VERSAILLES : Louis XVI.'s CABINET. DECORATED BY THE 

 BROTHERS ROUSSEAU (1788). 



Flowers, too, are represented cut and carelessly thrown down, as in 

 Japanese art, with hovering insects and flights of little birds. These 

 motives alternate with others due to Jean Jacques Rousseau's influence, 

 and his apotheosis of rustic life and sensibility, such as bee-hives, wheat- 

 sheaves, or bundles of vegetables, rakes, hoes, wheel barrows, or hay- 

 makers' hats, and sentimental emblems, such as burning torches, quivers, 

 pierced hearts, and billing doves. 



Ribbons, which are constantly associated with floral decoration, 



