`Winter', Portières des Dieux: The Seasons. An Allegorical Louis XV Tapestry, Gobelins, workshop of Jacques Neilson, after Claude III Audran circa 1760

Winter represented by Saturn, seated on a cloud and holding a scythe, with heads of children representing the Winds, with the zodiac sign of Aquarius above and subsidiary signs of Capricorn and Pisces, with theatrical masks and plumed headdresses below; set in elaborate architectural and scrollwork surround, within a four-sided blue and gold frame-pattern border with palmettes at the corners; reduced in height.



Saturne. Possibly no.8 of 12 weavings of the seventh 'tenture' from the workshop of Jacques Neilson, started 20 June 1752, completed 22 December 1753.



See preceding lots for the other tapestries in the series. 

Colour match is fairly accurate tonally. Just lighter in reality and more attractive.The yellow is not as bright in tone. Tapestry is lined with heavy cotton backing. Velcro is attached across the top for hanging purposes. It is recommended that re-lining is considered. There is some fading overall and some discolouration. Tapestry is in stable, restored and rewoven condition. For example see the top section of the ground, below the border which shows variety in colours to the ground across the width of the panel, visible in the photograph. This variety to the yellow ground extends lower down the panel across the areas to the sides. The brighter yellow ground, is later reweaving, and is visible in top corners and extending vertically in narrow trail, the height of panel. The areas of pinkish brown hue, between the pairs of flanking vertical supports, to the left has some warp thread visible as white specks, commensurate with age and this colour of dye. The matching area to the right has some later reweaving. The area of yellow in these areas are later reweaving. Some wear to light areas of highlights commensurate with age. The fan shaped scalloped bracket centre of lower edge is rewoven in darker terracotta colour. The corners have been repaired and rewoven, and the top corners are of different colouration to matching designed lower corners. See for example changes in colours in lower section of vertical borders. Left border is rewoven. Inner and outer narrow borders to the right border are later. The tapestry has previously been reduced in height, with the removal of the bottom section below the fan-shaped bracket. This consisted of a central fountain flanked by infant satyrs or children. The original height of the tapestries would have been around 340cm. This tapestry is finely woven with charming detailing. It is a balanced panel in both colour and composition, and in addition is of a good size.
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