Tapestry, silk and wool
Aubusson, France, circa 1780
After a cartoon by Jean-Baptiste Huet (1745-1811) – French Rococo artist
‘The Maypole’ from the Pastorals Series
Figural scene in romantic garden
Bright and vivid colors
Dimensions: approx. 273 x 195 cm
Very good condition
Provenance: acquired from Beauvais Carpets, 201 East 57 Street, New York; thereafter English private collection
Fine tapestry in unusually good condition

The present tapestry made of silk and wool dates to around 1780 and was probably woven by the royal manufactories of Aubusson in France, which remain world-renowned to this day. The tapestry shows a representation after a cartoon by Jean-Baptiste Huet (1745-1811). The subject matter ‘The Maypole’ is taken from the artist’s Pastorals Series. Tapestries from the series are held in the Musée du Petit-Palais in Paris and in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The scene features Huet’s typical style, influenced by the main representatives of the Rococo such as François Boucher.



The tapestry is in very good condition, considering its age, with bright and vivid colors. It shows folding lines, caused by not having been hung on a wall for a long period of time. There are some small holes here and there due to age, some with repairs. The border is (probably) missing. The dimensions are approx. 273 x 195 cm.



Jean-Baptiste Huet (1745-1811)

The French painter and engraver Jean-Baptiste Huet is mainly known for his delicate rococo-style pastoral and genre scenes. Huet had a great interest in print making and started as early as the 1760ies to reproduce his own etchings. He joined the Académie Royale in 1768 and was admitted to show his works in the Paris salon one year later. His first shown painting ‘Dog Attacking Geese’ can nowadays be seen in the Musée du Louvre. In addition to his paintings, Huet was renowned for his decorative art designs, such as toile de Jouy fabrics and tapestries, some of which can be seen in the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Louvre in Paris.