A Royal Louis XV Literary Tapestry, from the Story of Don Quichotte, Gobelins manufactory, under the direction of Michel Audran (1701-1771)

Please note that unlike the mention on the written catalogue, this lot is NOT classified as a Historical Monument, and its circulation is NOT restricted. Veuillez noter que contrairement à ce qui est écrit dans le catalogue papier, ce lot n'est pas classé monument historique et ne connait donc pas de restriction quant à sa circulation.

C. Bremmer-David, French tapestries & textiles in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 1999, pp. 40-53.
V.Pruchnicki Arnouville, Le château des Machault au XVIII' siècle, 2013.
S. de Monicault, "Léonce de Vogüé, un collectionneur de meubles Boulle à la fin du XIXe siècle", 2012, L'Estampille -L'Objet d'Art, no. 478 (avril 2012), pp. 80-83.
Robert Cecil, "The Hertford Wallace Collection of Tapestries", The Burlington Magazine, no.637 April 1956, pp.116-118.
Robert Cecil, "The Hertford Wallace Collection of Tapestries", The Burlington Magazine, no. 660 March 1958 p.101.
Maurice Fenaille, Etat General des Tapisseries de la Maufacture des Gobelins, Paris, 1904 IIII pp.219-229.
K.L Selig, "The Battle of the Sheep (Don Quixote, I, Xviii)", Revista Hispánica Moderna38, no. 1/2 (1974) pp.64–72.
Edith Standen, "The Memorable Judgement of Sancho Panza, A Gobelins Tapestry", Metropolitan Museum Journal X, 1975 p.103.
Edith Standen, European Post-Medieval Tapestries and Related Hangings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1985, p.373.
Edith Standen, "Madame de Pompadour's Gobelins Tapestries", Studies in the History of Art, vol. 42, 1993, pp.14–33.
Gillian Wilson and Catherine Hess, Summary Catalogue of European Decorative Arts in the J. Paul Getty Museum, 2002, p.154.

Composed each of six pieces from cartons executed around 1715 by Charles Coypel, Painter of the King, these Hangings of the History of Don Quixote are drawn from the famous literary work by Cervantes. This hanging was designed under the direction of Robert de Cotte (1656 -1735), first architect of the King, director of Gobelins (1699 - 1735) and the Duke of Antin, Superintendent of Buildings of the King (1708 - 1736). It was woven for the first time in 1717 for the Duke of Antin, himself (this tapestry comprising sixteen pieces was sold by Christie's in London, on June 10, 1993, lot 110).

This tapestry marks the beginning of a new Gobelins fashion. With this lively and frivolous subject, we are far from the sobriety of the classic and military themes that were in favor under Louis XIV. An innovative design, the background or surroundings, which appears here for the first time, is treated with the same precision as the scene itself. The tapestry of the story of Don Quixote, very popular throughout the 18th century, would be woven at least nine times, decorated with six different surroundings, between 1717 and 1778.

The present tapestry is part of the eighth hanging with crimson damask background executed by the workshops Audran and Cozette between 1763 and 1787; Don Quixote among the daughters of the inn was started in October 1773 and completed December 30, 1776. The tapestry comes from a hanging granted in 1783 by King Louis XVI to Monsieur de Machaut, Keeper of the Seals under the reign of Louis XV from 1750 to 1757. It was customary for a Gobelins wall hanging to be given to those who had filled the role of Chancellor or Keeper of the Seals. Monsieur de Machault had not received one. His family, therefore, remarked on this to Monsieur d'Angivilliers, Superintendent of the Buildings, who solicited from his Majesty the King Louis XVI to kindly authorise him to deliver this hanging. The king granted this request by his voucher of May 26, 1783. It included Le Bal, Don Quixote and the hotel girls, the Departure of Sancho for the island of Barataria, Don Quixote served by the ladies, the Dorothea, the Sancho meal. In 1784, the manufacturing account of the workshop of Cozette carries the interventions made on this wall hanging to adapt them to the quality of the recipient: "The arms of France replaced the peacock and the weapons of Machault were placed below the table". These tapestries, kept in the family of Monsieur de Machault, carry his weapons: "money with three heads of crows dripping sand Gules".