Title
Two Gobelins Historical Tapestries
Date
1790-1791
Description
Two Gobelins Tapestries woven by Pierre-Francois Cozette (Belgian, 1714-1801) and based on French history paintings. Both hang in the entrance hall of Marble House.
PSNC.465.1 – Entitled “Le Combat de Marcel et de Maillard” (French, 1790), based on a painting by Jean-Simon Berthélemy (French, 1743-1811). This tapestry references the popular uprising lead by Etienne Marcel, Provost of the Paris merchants, against the royal authority of the dauphin Charles (Charles V of France) in 1358. The scene here depicts Jean Malliard (Jehan Millart) killing Marcel just at the moment when Marcel was about to deliver Paris to Charles the Bad, King of Navarre, on July 31, 1358. In the foreground, Maillard dressed in full armor and wrapped in a yellow cloak, stands with a raised axe above Marcel, who is flung back, grasping the keys to the city in his hand while the folds of his scarlet cloak billow against the barricade. Behind them hand-to-hand combat is taking place between troops with pole arms and battle-axes. In the background the moon peaks out over a bastion and the rising walls of the city of Paris. The original work by Berthélemy was exhibited at the Salon of 1783. This is the first of four weaves of Berthélemy’s subject.
PSNC.465.2 – Entitled “L’Amiral De Coligny En Impose a ses Ennemis” (French, 1791), based on a painting by Joseph-Benoit Suvée (Flemish, 1743-1807). This tapestry references the assassination of Admiral Gaspard de Coligny (French, 1519-1572) on August 24, 1572, which was part of the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre, a series of attacks by French Catholics against the Huguenots during the French Wars of Religion. In the scene depicted the Protestant Admiral Coligny stands in the open doorway of a Renaissance façade, inscribed over the door is his name. He is half dressed, wearing a white chemise night shirt with puffed and slashed breeches and hose. He stands defiantly, his right hand on his heart, facing the mob of assassins. This group is vividly depicted in the left foreground and it is composed of men armed with swords and firearms, two of them bearing aloft torches. Besme, a servant of the Catholic Duke de Guise, is dressed in a yellow doublet and blue breeches, with a scarlet cloak flowing over his left shoulder. His face is animated with hatred. At the foot of the steps are three servitors who have fallen on their knees before the admiral, daunted by his courage. The hat and battle axe of one of them lie on the steps at the lower right. The original work by Suvée was exhibited at the Salon of 1787. This is the first of four weaves of Suvée’s subject.
PSNC.465.1 – Entitled “Le Combat de Marcel et de Maillard” (French, 1790), based on a painting by Jean-Simon Berthélemy (French, 1743-1811). This tapestry references the popular uprising lead by Etienne Marcel, Provost of the Paris merchants, against the royal authority of the dauphin Charles (Charles V of France) in 1358. The scene here depicts Jean Malliard (Jehan Millart) killing Marcel just at the moment when Marcel was about to deliver Paris to Charles the Bad, King of Navarre, on July 31, 1358. In the foreground, Maillard dressed in full armor and wrapped in a yellow cloak, stands with a raised axe above Marcel, who is flung back, grasping the keys to the city in his hand while the folds of his scarlet cloak billow against the barricade. Behind them hand-to-hand combat is taking place between troops with pole arms and battle-axes. In the background the moon peaks out over a bastion and the rising walls of the city of Paris. The original work by Berthélemy was exhibited at the Salon of 1783. This is the first of four weaves of Berthélemy’s subject.
PSNC.465.2 – Entitled “L’Amiral De Coligny En Impose a ses Ennemis” (French, 1791), based on a painting by Joseph-Benoit Suvée (Flemish, 1743-1807). This tapestry references the assassination of Admiral Gaspard de Coligny (French, 1519-1572) on August 24, 1572, which was part of the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre, a series of attacks by French Catholics against the Huguenots during the French Wars of Religion. In the scene depicted the Protestant Admiral Coligny stands in the open doorway of a Renaissance façade, inscribed over the door is his name. He is half dressed, wearing a white chemise night shirt with puffed and slashed breeches and hose. He stands defiantly, his right hand on his heart, facing the mob of assassins. This group is vividly depicted in the left foreground and it is composed of men armed with swords and firearms, two of them bearing aloft torches. Besme, a servant of the Catholic Duke de Guise, is dressed in a yellow doublet and blue breeches, with a scarlet cloak flowing over his left shoulder. His face is animated with hatred. At the foot of the steps are three servitors who have fallen on their knees before the admiral, daunted by his courage. The hat and battle axe of one of them lie on the steps at the lower right. The original work by Suvée was exhibited at the Salon of 1787. This is the first of four weaves of Suvée’s subject.
Cultural Origin
French
Medium
wool
silk threads
Extent
375.9 x 312.4 cm (148 x 123 inches)
Collection
Source
Gift of the Estate of Mr. Frederick H. Prince, 1963.
Identifier
PSNC.465.1-.2
For more information about this item, please contact its owning institution.