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ROYAL BEAUVAIS CHINOISERIE TAPESTRY (FRANCE), CIRCA 1725
This magnificent tapestry is from a set of tapestries inspired by the activities of French missionaries to the Far East. The tales recounted by the missionaries detailing their Eastern experiences fascinated the French court and instigated a trend in the decorative arts for objects embellished in the “Chinese” manner (an artistic style known as Chinoiserie). Ljtml1empereur en voyage wonderfully displays the European perception of the riches of the Chinese potentate as well as incorporating historically accurate references to the modus operandi of the missionaries—the Jesuits ingratiated themselves to the Chinese by sharing their knowledge of astronomy and science. As with all the great series of tapestries woven in France, several versions of the “History of the Chinese Emperor” were woven for different patrons. The first two sets of the series were woven for Louis-Auguste, duc de Maine (son of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan) and his half brother, Louis-Alexandre, comte de Toulouse. Two versions of “The Emperor on a Journey” from the collection of the comte de Toulousejtml1s remain, a complete tapestry, similar to our example, is in the Musée National du Château de Compiègne and a fragmentary example (missing the left-side pagoda and figures) is in the J.P. Getty Museum.Dimensions: 12' 7" x 11' 9"
Stock Number: 2547
