Tapestry. Wool, Silk. Probably Aubusson, France, 18th Century.

Tapestry. Wool, silk. Probably Aubusson, France, 18th century.
It has been restored. No notable signature or mark.
Antique tapestry with a frame in ochre, red, and other tones, depicting plant and architectural elements clearly reminiscent of classical art, and a figurative scene in the center. With three trees (note the pair of birds perched on one of them) and numerous plants in the foreground, a hunting scene unfolds, showing a hare and two dogs in pursuit. In the background, a landscape is revealed with a bridge and several buildings (houses, etc.), among which a palatial residence stands out in the center, its lower section made of rustic stone, reminiscent of examples common throughout Europe. Although it bears no signature or mark attesting to its provenance, it is very similar to examples held in private collections in Aubusson (Limousin, France) and dating from the 18th century. Aubusson tapestries are those made using traditional artisanal methods in the town of Aubusson and other localities in the Creuse region of France. Their long history begins with the "vegetal" tapestries already produced in the 15th century, continues with the Royal Aubusson Manufactory (1665), and, after periods of decline, culminates in a revival thanks to Jean Lurçat (1939). In addition to tapestries intended for wall decoration, they also produced furnishing fabrics and carpets of exceptional quality. Notable examples are preserved in institutions such as the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Château de Val, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Museum in Warsaw, the Nissim de Camondo Museum (Paris), and others. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the inscription "MR Daubusson" was placed on the blue border to identify the maker, often accompanied by the name or initials of the workshop that produced the work (this signature has sometimes disappeared due to damage to the border). In this tradition, hunting scenes appear in 16th-century works, featuring unicorns, wolves, boars, and other animals. Production was very prolific, given the popularity and success of tapestries throughout Europe. These hunts generally took place in natural settings, such as those depicting "vegetables."
Dimensions: 475 x 297 cm