New-York tribune., 1902-08-25
WORK OF THE GOBELINs
THREE CENTURIES OF TAPESTRIES
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY sPEC1.
MEMS EXHIBITED. "a
Paris August IS


Paris. August la
The tricentenary Of the Gobelins' tauestrv
mandatory was celebrated recently by the
opening OF the exhibition of three centurisx =.
tapestry in the galleries Of the Grand Palace
of the Champs Elysees \ hundred and aftv
specimens OF Gobelins are hung on the walls re-
Gently occupied by the pictures of the Salon o,
the French Artists. There is only one nine
teentb century tapestry exhibited bad conv
made in 1857 of portrait of Louis XIV-ha
cause the national factory during that period
was in 6ecadence. Crude. inartistic colors and
complicated designs spoiled the effect Of the
works and brought them into dsfavor. Reac-
ton has now set in. The tapestries recently
made for the Emperor of Russia. for the
Coincide Franeaise. for Baron Alphonse ds
RothschiId and for the Hotel de Vile Of Bor.
deaux indicate a Renaissance. In its way
the twentieth century may be glorious
for the Gobelius' establishment as were the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries The
technical skill of the artisans. the designs OF
artists and the chemical development in secur-
ing deep. fast color tones have supplanted the
supine ignorance and want of taste that pre-
vailed at the Gebelins' from the Revolution
until the Worlds Fair of 1900.
In the present exhibition the specimens are
almost exclusively of the periods Of Louis XIV
and Louis XIV. Near the main entrance are two
little gems-a decorative panel by Audran, woven
Ia silk golden ground. representing Jupiter
surrounded by arabesques. and a small gon1oIa
rug. executed in 1864 at the savonnerie, en-
broidered in silk and velvet This gondola rug
is the only instance known Of velvet tapestry
having been executed at the national French
works The design is exquisite, but unfo-tu-
nately the colors have faded.
Among the large tapestries is one representing
Louis XIV entering Dunkeraue in 1862 The
design is by lie Brun. Louis XIV Is On horse
back pointing toward the town with his cane
peasant leaning against tree salutes the
King, and the houses CT Dunkerque are seen In
the distance. A regiment Of musketeers 1eales
In the background. This tapestry is one of a
series Of fourteen pieces representing La Vie
du Roi.''
Another large tapestry represents the
dience accorded the Spanish Ambassador By
Louis XIV, when the ambassador. in behalf O,
his sovereign recognized that upon all occasions
precedence should be given to French anoassa-
dors over those of Spain Other large tapestries
represent the Triumph OF the Gods. after
Raphael; Venue at Vulcan's Forge, after
Boucher. and the Visit of Louis XIV to the
GobeIins"-the latter being Of interest as show
ing that the national mandatory vas or1si-
nalIy intended to produce not only tapestries,
but furniture, vases. silver plate, carved "ood
and marble.
There IS a superb series Of tapestries repre-
senting the adventures OF Don Quixots They
are designed by Coypel. and are sxSuiSitely
woven IN pale rose color on bun ground
Coypei began the work in 1714. and completed
IL in 1I51. Louis XIV was very fond Of the
0,-fxo no
he asked of courtier one day. NO, sire" I
am sorry for you." was the Kings reply. To
another courtier he said: IF you expect 20 be
aopoin,ed ambassador at Madrid. you must nrst
Of all learn Spanish" The noblenaan after SIX
months hard study announced that he had
learned Spanish Now read Don Quixote' and
I will give you the Spanish embassy
The exhibition contains finely woven tapes
try, measuring % by Is feet, representing the
reception of the Turkish special ambassador
sent by tn. Sultan 70 congratulate Louis XIV
upon his accession 70 the throne The tapestry
was given by Louis XIV 70 the Sultan Twelve
Of the principal figures are portraits of person
ages of the period II. Constans. the present
French Ambassador at Constantinopls, heard
that the tapestry was stored away in an TN
periaI garrett. and managed TO purchase It for
IS 900 of the Turkish Government. and brought
Il 20 Paris with him last summer.
There is a magnificent series Of tapestries III
Guiding Cupid and Psyche Triumph Of
Bacchus." THE Daughter OF Jephthah' and
Moses Taken from the BulrusheS. Those were
made during the reign Of Louis Ky There are
also some superior reproductions of Raphaefs
frescos in the Vatican
When Colbert organized the Gobelns he placed
the painter lie Brun in charge Of the works
lie Brun gathered about him the young artists
of the day and the national mandatory never
produced finer tapestries than those called Les
Actes de la Vie due Roi'-fourteen pieces meas
uring 50 by % feet. illustrating memorable
events OF the reign OF Louis XIV. Among tne
best preserved specimens Of this series are tne
Marriage Of Louis XIV The Defeat OF the
spaniards az the Canal OF Bruges in 1901 anu
The Siege Of Douai in 1857 IN l6SO Mighalu.
the painter. succeeded lie Brun. and executed
works in lighter vein, such as Apollo and ths
Muses." and The Rape ot Psyche" Mansart
subsequently replaced Mignard. and conlnanded
Of Coypel a beautiful series CT mytholosica4
subjects.
The decaderce OF the Gobelins in the nile
teenth century is attributed 10 three causes
ChevreuI was undoubtedly great chemist oN-
his inventions were very unfortunate ones i0i
the Gobelirs He created hundreds OF sha"e'
of color for worsted and silk slEeins. ana tH.0
new tones changed even before the tapesuI1
left the factory. There We're only Ior'S $40
of color used at the Gobelns' IN the li'N0
Louis XIV. but the old cOlors we're lAs'
durable Then the taste OF the nlnetseI''i -.
turv was for effaced delicate tints "ili0N -
not hold their own, and which III d To- -
became incongruoUs-it IS old age So
gives TO the seventeenth and eighteenth
tury works their soft. mellow tones tAa' AK
much admired. The custom OF repfouNo'-7 80