Tapestry of Auvusson, 18th Century, Scene of Hunting at Cours Au Cerf

This beautiful antique tapestry was woven in Aubusson, France, circa 1760. Rectangular in shape, the colorful piece depicts an outdoor scene with a gentleman hunter seated in front of temple with his dog beside him; he is looking at a shepherdess holding a sheep. Trees, foliage and ruins in the background. The wall decor is in excellent condition commensurate with age and use, with rich blue, green and beige color palette. The tapestry was originally designed by J. B. Oudry for the Manufacture de Beauvais, and was part of a serie titled, "Les Amusements Champetres". The "Pastoral Amusement", was a series of tapestries designed between 1720 and 1730 by Jean-Baptiste Oudry for Noel-Antoine de Merou, then director of the Royal Beauvais Tapestry Manufactory. The first production of the designs took place at Beauvais in 1731. There were eight designs in the original series; Le Cheval Fondu, Colin-Maillard, La Bergère, Le Pied de Boeuf, Le Joueur d'Osselets, La Balançoire...

This elegant, antique tapestry was handwoven in the city of Aubusson, France, circa 1750. The iconic tapestry, "The Pastoral Meal" with foliage decor on both sides, features a joyous pastoral scene in the manner of David Teniers, with people eating and chatting around a wooden table and benches. There is also two people dancing with a flute player, and a dog asking for leftover food. The wall hanging tapestry with its original border, is in excellent condition and has a rich colors in the soft blue, beige and green palette. A new canvas backing was added for protection. The Aubusson tapestry manufacture of the 17th and 18th century managed to compete with the royal manufacture of Gobelins tapestry and the privileged position of Beauvais tapestry. Tapestry manufacture at Aubusson, in the upper valley of the Creuse in central France, may have developed from looms in isolated family workshops established by Flemings that are noted in documents from the 16th century. Typically, Aubusson tapestries depended on engravings as a design source or the full-scale cartoons from which the low-warp tapestry-weavers worked. As with Flemish and Parisian tapestries...