79509 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry, 02'06 x 11'04.
The Pastoral Reverie: A Late 19th French Aubusson Tapestry Trio of Rococo Romance
This exquisite set of late 19th-century French Aubusson tapestry panels offers a rare glimpse into an imagined world of leisure, refinement, and cultivated romance. Handwoven in wool and silk, the trio reflects the enduring legacy of the scène galante—an idyllic pastoral vision favored by the French aristocracy and immortalized by masters such as Boucher and Huet. These panels were conceived not merely as decoration, but as immersive storytelling textiles, intended for grand interiors where art, status, and taste converged.
Each extraordinary masterpiece unfolds as a distinct vignette within this romantic countryside narrative. In the first, a seated young woman is serenaded as a gentleman presents a small instrument, their quiet intimacy framed by flowering shrubs and soft woodland shade. The central panel captures a more animated exchange: a refined couple strolls arm in arm, the gentleman gesturing gently as if in conversation or courtship, the landscape opening behind them like a theatrical backdrop. The final panel introduces playful movement—a gentleman guiding a lady forward in a lighthearted promenade, her skirts lifted delicately as they step through the garden, embodying flirtation and effortless grace. Together, the scenes read as chapters of aristocratic leisure, choreographed with elegance and charm.
The visual language is enriched by lavish borders that frame each tableau like a painted salon panel. Rose bouquets cascade from above, entwined with winding garlands of foliage and scrolling rinceaux that echo the ornamental vocabulary of Louis XV and Louis XVI decorative arts. Acanthus scrollwork anchors the compositions, while trompe-l’oeil filigree lends architectural depth, blurring the boundary between textile and illusionistic wall décor. The silk highlights shimmer subtly, enhancing the painterly softness and lending dimensional refinement to every leaf, petal, and fold of fabric.
Rarely preserved as a complete and harmonious set, these exquisite works of art represent a level of craftsmanship and narrative sophistication reserved for elite interiors. Their romantic symbolism—courtship, music, conversation, and pastoral escape—speaks to a world where beauty and leisure were elevated to an art form. Perfect for collectors and designers seeking heirloom distinction, this trio transforms any space into a salon of historical romance, offering not just visual splendor, but the prestige of owning a woven echo of France’s most elegant dreams.
- The specific vertical shape suggests they may have been designed as "entre-fenêtre" panels, intended for the narrow wall spaces between windows.
- Abrash. Desirable Age Wear.
- Handwoven wool. Handwoven silk.
- Made in France.
- Measures: 02'06 x 11'04.
- Pile Height: 0.32 of an inch.
- Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.
