Raphael de la Planche (active Paris, 1633 - 1661)
Chateau and Garden Tapestry: Boating and Hunting Parties, 1625-1650
Wool warp (8 yarns per cm); wool and silk wefts, 467.4 x 350.5 cm (184 x 138 in.)
This lush vertical tapestry depicts a large chateau in the background with gardens and a river in the foreground, all surrounded by a decorative floral border. The chateau is a stone building adorned with sculptures and upper balconies, set among sloping steppes and mountains in the distance. In front of the chateau is a large symmetrical garden with paths dividing it into rectangular sections. Each section contains a central fountain, paths, and plants in clay pots in the corners. At the front edge of the garden is a grouping of three figures; two figures stand facing forward and the figure to our right kneels, facing the couple. The figure to our left is a light-skinned man dressed in red and blue and wearing a large-brimmed blue hat. To his right is a light-skinned woman wearing a gold gown and shawl. A small white animal, likely a puppy, has its front paws on her gown. To her right is a light-skinned man wearing a white shirt and gold tunic, with a pouch on a rope over one shoulder. He is perched on his left knee and holds up his right arm up to the woman. An unusual looking net with a wooden frame and pole is in front of this man. Framing this scene is an arbor with an openwork arch covered with greenery and held up by four posts. Each post is made up of a sculpture of a female wearing a short dress standing on a rectangular base. The figures are tan and each has a thick vine curving around her body. Each figure has one or two arms raised up to a beam that is over their heads. On the beams rest urns with flowering plants. A deep blue sky appears over the archway. Further in the foreground, running horizontally, is the river. A wooden rowboat carries a finely dressed, light-skinned couple sitting under an awning. The figures face toward our right and look at each other. The light-skinned rower wearing white also faces to our right and looks back at the couple. At the other end, with his back to the viewer, a light-skinned musician wearing a wide-brimmed blue hat serenades the couple with his mandolin. In the extreme foreground is a parklike area with foliage and small animals. To our right is a hunter and his dog. The hunter holds what appears to be a crossbow. The border has a soft gold background and is decorated with variously shaped urns holding flowering plants along both sides. This motif, along with pink bows and ribbons, appears across the top and bottom as well.
Little Salon
Commentary
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