2017 Hermès Scarf Jardin à Sintra - The Meaning Of The Object

Photo Courtesy of Hermès

The annual theme of the luxury French Maison Hermès in 2017 was Le sens de l'objet. It alludes to “The meaning of the object” or “The sense of purpose” when it is translated into English. It refers to the motivation to pursue goals and dreams, to accomplish something meaningful to you or to make a positive difference for others. Echoing the annual theme, its carré contents extend to aspects such as the object evolution from visualisation to reality, the passion of craftsmanship, the connection between space and time, the ecology of human-nature interactions etc.

Photo Courtesy of Andrea

The carré Jardin à Sintra was designed by the artist Annie Faivre for the Hermès Fall/Winter 2017 collection. It depicts the distinctive architecture and landscape designs of Palácio de Monserrate (Monserrate Palace) in Portugal. A place that reflects the human sense of purpose, such as passion, innovation and commitment. Based on the authentic elements of Palácio de Monserrate, the artist transforms the image she visualises into physical art. This masterpiece is considered one of the most intricate carré among Annie Faivre’s creations for Hermès due to its high-level artistry.

The 2017 Hermès catalogue provides a detailed description of the carré Jardin à Sintra: “Near the town’s historical centre, the palace and park of Monserrate add to their astonishing beauty. Inspired by Gothic, Indian and Moorish art and nestled in luxuriant grounds, this fantasy of stone and trees was acquired by a British textile magnate in the second half of the nineteenth century. Species brought here from the four corners of the globe thrive in the gentle climate. Organised by origin, they create a haven of unrivalled tranquillity. Designer Annie Faivre was dazzled by the site’s beauty: her carré is designed to evoke the luxuriant, romantic park populated with palms, cacti, banana trees, eucalyptus, wisteria, holly, tree ferns, cork oaks and agaves.”

Photo Courtesy of Andrea

The Palácio de Monserrate is a palatial villa concealed within the Serra de Sintra mountain range near Sintra, Portugal, once the traditional summer resort of the Portuguese court. In ancient Portugal mythology, these mountains symbolise the Lunae Mons (Mountains of the Moon). In Roman times, Cynthia was the moon goddess. The name Cynthia eventually transformed into the present-day “Sintra”. It also symbolised the hiding place of Diana, the ancient goddess of nature, wild animals, and the hunt.

According to legend, a chapel was dedicated to the Virgin Mary built by the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, after reconquering Sintra. In 1540, a new chapel dedicated to the Our Lady of Monserrate (Nossa Senhora de Monserrate) was constructed by Friar Gaspar Preto after the original chapel was ruined. Since then, the name of Palácio de Monserrate and its adjoining garden was derived from the Virgin of Montserrat.

After the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the property became dilapidated. The estate of Monserrate was rented by a wealthy English merchant Gerard de Visme in 1789, who built a house on the property in the neo-Gothic style. William Beckford subleased the Monserrate estate in 1793 and started to design the landscape garden.

In 1809, the British Romantic poet and peer Lord Byron visited Palácio de Monserrate and mentioned the beauty of Monserrate in his classic work of poetry: Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Since then, the property attracted many people who lived outside of Portugal and gained the attention of the wealthy English merchant Sir Francis Cook. He subleased the estate in 1856 and bought the property in 1863. He was graced with the title of Viscount of Monserrate by King Dom Luís. Monserrate Palace was designed and built by architect Thomas James Knowles in 1858 and commissioned by Sir Francis Cook. The Palace became the summer residence of the Cook family.

The Portuguese State bought the estate in 1949. The Park and Palace of Monserrate were categorised as a Property of Public Interest in 1978 and have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995.

In 2000, the estate management was transferred to Parques de Sintra. They provided a profound recovery and restoration program to enable the palace to re-open to the public. In 2013, the Park of Monserrate was distinguished with a European Garden Award under the “Best Development of a Historic Park or Garden” category.

Photo Courtesy of Andrea

The Palácio de Monserrate is influenced by Neo-Gothic, Mudéjar Moorish and Indian architecture amidst a 33-hectare garden. Benefiting from the fresh breeze of the Atlantic Ocean flowing over the hill, hundreds of plants are in their utmost luxuriance in its Rose Garden, Mexican Garden, Japanese Garden, Fern Valley, Ornamental and Hippocrene lakes etc. Complete with botanical delights of five continents, the English-style garden is filled with romantic serenity and unrivalled tranquillity. The abundant and moist habitat is also the home for birds, insects, amphibians and other wildlife.

Photo Courtesy of Portugal Travel

On the Hermès carré Jardin à Sintra, the artist sets the elevation of a natural water tank at the half-height hill as the horizontal line. The gardens and lakes from the angle of depression rise above the horizontal line, and the plants with tenacious vitality burst out along the frame. The palace from the angle of elevation blends into the thriving gardens. The carré title Jardin à Sintra at the bottom centre is just below the traditional Portuguese Azelejos tiles. Starting from here, the S-shape composition guides the viewer's eyes throughout the art and directs the attention to the tri-towered Palácio de Monserrate.

Photo Courtesy of Andrea

The dense foliage covers a grand perron that leads to the veranda. The Hispano-Moresque tiles and flower planters create an inviting and energetic atmosphere at the front entry. Next to the Bird-of-Paradise plant, a pair of stone-carved lions on the front newel posts witnessed the evolution of Palácio de Monserrate over a century. The lush tree canopies empower the domes and wall panels in greenery, and the contrast in form and texture between the swayful plants and solid building creates a romantic, dramatic and interesting scene.

Photo Courtesy of Maria

In addition to the plant list in the Hermès catalogue, the following signature plants from the garden are also included. For example, the long-lived cork oak tree, gigantic banyan tree, evergreen umbrella pines, rosette-shaped aeoniums, graceful Beschornia yuccoides, tall Archontophoenix cunninghamiana palm tree and Sir Francis Cook’s favourite ferns are cohabiting in the design. The luxuriant intertwined foliage offers shelter to dozens of creatures such as birds, squirrels, frogs, turtles, butterflies, dragonflies, bees, beetles, lizards, and last not but least, Annie Faivre’s signature monkey.

The Neo-Gothic ogee arch is inlaid with the Mudéjar Moorish floral and vegetal interlacing motifs gleamingly in the sunlight. The lights shine and bounce off the palace between the flowers, leaves and branches. The gentle breeze wafts the sound of leaves from the garden, and the light and shadow are whirling as if flowers and leaves are dancing, shimmering, and fluttering everywhere. The palace and its English-style garden added to each others’ splendour.

Photo Courtesy of Andrea

Imagination and visualisation are internal images of a human being that are not visible to other people's senses. With passion, innovation and commitment, the architect and other people who contribute to the Palácio de Monserrate have transformed their imagination and visualisation into physical architecture and gardens. In the Hermès carré Jardin à Sintra, the artist Annie Faivre epitomises the Palácio de Monserrate and its adjoining gardens from different elevations into the 90 x 90 cm Jardin à Sintra carré. Combining Annie Faivre’s extraordinary painting skills and Hermès’ superb screen-printing technique, the Palácio de Monserrate reappears in a new form to the public. Either the Palácio de Monserrate or Hermès carré Jardin à Sintra, through the transformation from the masters’ imaginations and visualisation into physical objects, they are visible to the other's senses. The greatest gift of architecture, gardens and art is the restoration of the five senses. The object expands our visions with borders and promotes pleasure through understanding. That’s the meaning of the object!