拍品專文
This tapestry and that in the following lot display the armorial device of Jean-Baptiste Colbert (d.1683). They almost certainly form part of the series of six portières of the same subject ordered circa 1664 by Colbert, a pivotal figure in Louis XIV's government, who founded the Gobelins manufactory in 1662. Colbert was responsible for educating the king in financial affairs and supported his decision to build Versailles, placing it in its rightful perspective within France's economic affairs. When the noblemen abroad and in France increasingly aimed at imitating Louis XIV, Colbert founded several manufactories supplying them with luxury goods such as furniture, lacquer and silk, which led to the foundation of the Gobelins manufactory
Foucquet, finance minister to Louis XIV, who built Vaux-le-Vicomte, had established his own workshops at Maincy supplying goods to his new house. For the design of tapestries he recruited Charles LeBrun and for their execution several artisans from Brussels and Enghien. Upon his fall from favour with the king, the staff of the factory was transferred to the newly founded Gobelins manufactory
The present tapestries, from the Renommés series, were originally designed by LeBrun between 1659-60 while at Maincy and several, with the arms of France and Navarre, were woven before the manufactory was transferred. Colbert's series, which was woven circa 1664, was executed with slight alterations to the first designs. He had his own armorial device replace the arms of France and Navarre and the supporting figures stand on their feet rather than springing forth from cornucopia. Furthermore he had the lion in the lower corner replaced by a cockerel
A tapestry, almost certainly from the same series, was anonymously sold at Sotheby's Zürich, 25 November 1992, lot 74. A further model, then in the collection Denière, is illustrated in M. Fenaille, Etat général des tapisseries de la manufacture des Gobelins depuis son origine jusqu'à nos jours 1600-1900, Paris, 1923, vol. I, pp. 1-8, illus. opposite p. 22
Foucquet, finance minister to Louis XIV, who built Vaux-le-Vicomte, had established his own workshops at Maincy supplying goods to his new house. For the design of tapestries he recruited Charles LeBrun and for their execution several artisans from Brussels and Enghien. Upon his fall from favour with the king, the staff of the factory was transferred to the newly founded Gobelins manufactory
The present tapestries, from the Renommés series, were originally designed by LeBrun between 1659-60 while at Maincy and several, with the arms of France and Navarre, were woven before the manufactory was transferred. Colbert's series, which was woven circa 1664, was executed with slight alterations to the first designs. He had his own armorial device replace the arms of France and Navarre and the supporting figures stand on their feet rather than springing forth from cornucopia. Furthermore he had the lion in the lower corner replaced by a cockerel
A tapestry, almost certainly from the same series, was anonymously sold at Sotheby's Zürich, 25 November 1992, lot 74. A further model, then in the collection Denière, is illustrated in M. Fenaille, Etat général des tapisseries de la manufacture des Gobelins depuis son origine jusqu'à nos jours 1600-1900, Paris, 1923, vol. I, pp. 1-8, illus. opposite p. 22