Rugs, Carpets and Tapestries

A Rare & Important French Louis LIV Tapestry Beauvais Tapestry

16th/17th Century

LOUIS XIV 1638-1715

Known as (Louis le Grand)

King of France from 1643 to 1715

“Les Vaisseaux”

From the series “Les ports de mer”

Height 8 ft. 4 in. Width 12 ft. 8 in.

This tapestry belongs to a series that was initially inspired by rich Menagerie at Versailles. This series was based on the cartoons by Joseph Van de Kerchove and Adrien Campion. One of the first series was supplied to the Swedish Collection through Carl Piper in 1695. A Further set bearing the arms of Chevalier d'Allonne at Chateau Merlemont.

This is one of the few seascapes woven at Beauvais. It is interesting to note that the Garde Meuble only very rarely purchased tapestries from Beauvais, but this series featured among acquisitions made by LOUIS XIV for his Chateau de Marly in 1696. He ordered a set of four tapestries from the series.

Provenance:

Private Collection, New York
Le Trianon Fine Art & Antiques

Dimensions:
Height 8 ft. 4 in. Width 12 ft. 8 in.

Inv#: Tap10