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| Background Tapestry is one of those French traditions which, trough the centuries, has made a rich contribution to the beauty of our heritage. In the middle ages, until the Hundred Years War, the Ile-de-France was the leading producer of tapestries with Paris the undoubted capital. Then the war and the systematic plundering of towns sent the tapestry makers fleeing northwards where they founded the Ateliers d'Arras (Arras Studios). Then when Arras was pillaged, they went on towards Flanders which became their new centre. These tapestry makers, true craftsmen working in family concerns, wove biblical scenes, and later on, scenes from mythology, taking their inspiration from the translations of Greek and Latin texts. Towards the end of the 15th century, the Val-de-Loire became a popular place for tapestry makers, and it was in this "cradle of French kings" that the most prestigious works were made that way, we now find in the museums. "Les Mille Fleurs" rural scenes overflowing with freshness and charm, where gentle ladies, lords and peasant folk frolic on a background of "bord de Loire" flowerets. The end of the Middle Ages saw the appearance of epic scenes. Kings and princes had tapestries woven of their tournaments, combats, victories and even their hunting parties. This period remains the mos prolific for unrivaled masterpieces. With the Renaissance and the arrival of the Italians artists, tapestry radically changed style. Associating painting and tapestry, Raphael introduced the art of composition, order, clarity, perspective, decor and the rich borders and arabesques that characterized the highly colored style of the Renaissance period. |
Around 1530 in France François 1er founded the first royal tapestry factory in Fontainebleau, near Paris. And in 1660 Colbert t established the royal factory of Les Gobelins, then Beauvais 4 years later, under the protection of Louis XIV. More than 800 painters and tapestry makers could be seen at the Gobelins in Paris, under the direction of Charles Le Brun, whose idea was to group the artists according to their talents and tastes. That is why it was not unusual to find cartoons signed by several different artists. After the death of Louis XIV, the official, formal subjects disappeared to give way to more imaginative subject. Tapestry weaving became more romantic with beautiful landscapes, and this style reached its peak with Boucher. The French Revolution put a stop to the creative genius of the tapestry makers, but in 1795, Beauvais, Aubusson and Felletin reopened and until the 19th century reproduced the design of the greatest cartoon artists of the royal factory. Over the centuries, tapestry making techniques changed. Around 1757 Jacques de Vaucanson developed a low warp loom that was slightly improved later by Joseph Marie Jacquard (1752-1834). This loom is the basis of the technique used today in our workshops to produce our stitches and particularly for the Halluin stitch. This technique has enabled tapestry making to adapt to the modern world while retaining all its authenticity. Today, although there are more than five centuries between us and the first major works woven by our tapestry makers, we are proud to be able to offer all art lovers, genuine collector's items to decorate a room, whatever the style or size of the interior These works of art, painstakingly created
by our own weavers are |
