Tapestry ranks among painting, sculpture and architectures as one of the major visual art forms.
Throughout its history, it has been intimately associated with painting which is one of its prime sources of inspiration. French tapestry, with royal patronage, won acclaim and became a true industry, vying with that of Flanders. This richly illustrative art form chronicled political, religious and artistic life in the Western world. In the Middle Ages, tapestry had a purely utilitarian function. Immortalizing the feudal lords' war exploits, tapestry was used to decorate the austere walls of their castles or as an insulation in the more comfortable quarters.