Aubusson Tapestry Ariadne's Story End XVII

The Story of Ariadne - Epicharis questioned by Trébace. Tenture composed of eight tapestries in wool and silk Aubusson, late 17th century Grignan Castle retains a hanging of the History of Ariadne. Composed of eight tapestries, it was woven in Aubusson at the end of the 17th century. Monumental art par excellence, the tapestry remains, at this time, one of the main decorations of noble interiors. It participates in the solemnity of a place while effectively isolating the cold. An inventory of 1668 counts 135 in the castle of Grignan. The subject of the Story of Ariadne is borrowed from a novel written by Jean Desmaret (1595-1676). It recounts the adventures of a young Sicilian, Ariane, and her three companions (Palamède, Ariane's brother, Mélinte, Ariane's lover and her maid Epicharis) at the time of the Emperor Néron. Cruising the Mediterranean basin, young people face terrible and extravagant ordeals. If the main scenes are taken from engravings by Abraham Bosse (1604-1676), the landscape is inspired by Aubussonnais nature. These bucolic settings emphasize the naive charm of the characters. It is this aesthetic with fresh and simple poetry that I appreciate in the tapestries of Aubusson of this time. "