Europe from a set of The Four Continents designed ca. 1786, woven 1790-91 Jean Jacques François Le Barbier French This suite of four tapestries and its coordinating upholstery (MMA 1978.404.4a-c-.18a-c were commissioned from the Beauvais manufactory in 1786 and woven between 1790 and 1791. ¹ As has been noted, "The attractive and not impossible suggestion that the set was intended to be a gift from King Louis XVI to George Washington was made by the first scholar to publish the work.. but it is not supported by any contemporary evidence."² Regardless of whether the suite was intended as a gift to President Washington, the French Revolution intervened, and it is perhaps miraculous that the tapestries were woven at all. By the time they were complete, the French king was in no position to bestow diplomatic gifts on anyone. It is the representation of America as a rather demure-looking young woman that sets this iconographic scheme apart from other groupings of the Four Continents. In th
SuperStock offers millions of photos, videos, and stock assets to creatives around the world. This image of Europe from a set of The Four Continents designed ca. 1786, woven 1790-91 Jean Jacques François Le Barbier French This suite of four tapestries and its coordinating upholstery (MMA 1978.404.4a-c-.18a-c were commissioned from the Beauvais manufactory in 1786 and woven between 1790 and 1791. ¹ As has been noted, "The attractive and not impossible suggestion that the set was intended to be a gift from King Louis XVI to George Washington was made by the first scholar to publish the work.. but it is not supported by any contemporary evidence."² Regardless of whether the suite was intended as a gift to President Washington, the French Revolution intervened, and it is perhaps miraculous that the tapestries were woven at all. By the time they were complete, the French king was in no position to bestow diplomatic gifts on anyone. It is the representation of America as a rather demure-looking young woman that sets this iconographic scheme apart from other groupings of the Four Continents. In th by Piemags/PL Photography Limited is available for licensing today.
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Image Number: 6145-29784940Royalty FreeCredit Line:Piemags/PL Photography Limited/SuperStockCollection:PL Photography Limited Contributor:Piemags Model Release:NoProperty Release:NoResolution:2791×2095
