Lot Essay
Les Amusements Champêtre woven by Aubusson in the mid-18th Century was inspired by the series designed by Oudry for the Beauvais Manufactory in the 1730s. There are about twenty different subjects in the series. This tapestry, which is reduced in width, would have extended to the right and shown a lady filling a tricorn at a fountain and further ladies standing under a tree.
A suite of five tapestries from the series was sold from the property of Henry Francis du Pont at Winterthur, Christie's New York, 14 October 1994, lots 59-63, and two panels forming a further version of this scene, formerly the property of the 6th Earl of Rosebery, were sold at Sotheby's London, 3 March 1978, lots 6 and 7
A suite of five tapestries from the series was sold from the property of Henry Francis du Pont at Winterthur, Christie's New York, 14 October 1994, lots 59-63, and two panels forming a further version of this scene, formerly the property of the 6th Earl of Rosebery, were sold at Sotheby's London, 3 March 1978, lots 6 and 7