81 - IMPORTANT AND DELICATE TAPESTRY

IMPORTANT AND DELICATE TAPESTRY Aubusson, early 19th century The Hunters’ Rest (also known as The Hunters’ Lunch) Wool and silk, low-warp weave. H. 240 cm – W. 262 cm In excellent condition. This tapestry stands out for the delicacy of its weave and the vibrancy of its colors. This is particularly evident in the bright reds of the bell-ringer’s garment. It was woven based on a Flemish-style design, inspired by the genre scenes of David Teniers the Younger, which the Aubusson workshops continued to produce throughout the 18th century and into the early 19th. The Scene During a grand hound hunt, the hunting party stops to rest for a moment and share a meal. On the right, local dignitaries are seated at a table in front of a rustic half-timbered inn, whose sign is shaped like a star. A man in a blue coat and white breeches, seated in profile, is conversing with his guests. On the far right, a servant girl wearing a traditional headdress is bringing a dish. A white greyhound is seated at the foot of the table. In the center and on the left, a dog handler wearing a fur cap holds a group of hounds on leashes. On the far left, the hornblower in a red coat blows his horn to signal a stop or to rally the rest of the hunting party. In the background, a vast, rolling, wooded landscape opens up onto a village: thatched-roof cottages, a church with a pointed bell tower, livestock, and peasants working near a river. This landscape is rendered with great care and lends the scene a beautiful sense of depth. The Border The border features a trompe-l’œil effect, mimicking a molded picture frame. It consists of friezes of gadroons and ovals, interspersed with small rosettes and acanthus leaves. Its monochromatic palette of warm tones (gold, bronze, ochre, brown) highlights the freshness of the central scene. Bibliography - C. Pérathon, “Notice sur les manufactures de tapisseries d’Aubusson, de Felletin et de Bellegarde,” Limoges, 1862. - J. Guiffrey, *History of Tapestry from the Middle Ages to the Present Day*, Tours, 1886. - Catalogs of the Museum of Hunting and Nature, Paris. Comparative Works Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie, Aubusson; Mobilier National, Paris; Museum of Hunting and Nature, Paris; Nissim de Camondo Museum, Paris; Louvre Museum; the palaces of Compiègne and Fontainebleau.