Tapestry Wall-hanging; ground, mostly white; subject, Cupid among the rustics. French, or Gobelin, 18th century. Lent by the Board of Works.
Amid the ruins of an Ionic temple in the foreground we have a
shepherd and his dog fast asleep, while a winged youthful genius is hovering
just above, and scattering very plentifully poppy-flowers all about
the spot. Behind, a young little Cupid, seated on a cloud, is surrounded
by a crowd of rustics, men and women, thronging, as it were, to hear
him. As in the other fellow-piece to this, the colouring is cheerful and
very pleasing, in parts so soft and well graduated in their tones, and so
remarkable for their foreshortenings. From their large size they must
have been intended for some great hall, and seemingly were all wrought
for the same spacious room.
Tapestry Hangings for Pilasters; ground, brown; design, arabesques done in red, blue, and yellow. French, early 18th century. Lent by the Board of Works.
These two pieces seem to have been especially wrought to cover
some pilasters in a hall, and not to border any larger production of the
loom.
