Woven Gold: Tapestries of Louis XIV

by Charissa Bremer-David, Pascal-Francois Bertrand (Contributor), Arnauld Brejon de Lavergnée (Contributor)

Meticulously woven by hand with wool, silk, and gilt-metal thread, the tapestry collection of the Sun King, Louis XIV of France, represents the highest achievements of the art form. Intended to enhance the king’s reputation by visualizing his manifest glory and to promote the kingdom’s nascent mercantile economy, the royal collection of tapestries included antique and contemporary sets that followed the designs of the greatest artists of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, including Raphael, Giulio Romano, Rubens, Vouet, and Le Brun. Ranging in date from about 1540 to 1715 and coming from weaving workshops across northern Europe, these remarkable works portray scenes from the bible, history, and mythology. As treasured textiles, the works were traditionally displayed in the royal palaces when the court was in residence and in public on special occasions and feast days. They are still little known, even in France, as they are mostly reserved for the decoration of elite state residences and ministerial offices.
 
This catalogue accompanies an exhibition of fourteen marvelous examples of the former royal collection that will be displayed exclusively at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center from December 15, 2015, to May 1, 2016. Lavishly illustrated, the volume presents for the first time in English the latest scholarship of the foremost authorities working in the field.

168 pages, Hardcover

First published December 15, 2015

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a struggle, but I made it! You’ll enjoy this book if you obsessively love French names, baroque art, and tapestries. I have come to the personal conclusion that I dislike all three of these things. Actually all joking aside, it got a little bit (okay sliiiighy) more interesting towards the end. Silver lining: it helped me get to sleep many a night over the seven plus months it took me to read it. At least the pictures were lovely, the rest was not my cup of tea.

[Lucie Paris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and impressive work of art!

Since I'm interested in art and its different representations, when this book has come to my sight, at first I was afraid it will be a boring one. Because who really want to read about old carpets? o.O?

When in reality, it was a very great read.
This textile art is impressive for its size and often very well detailed that you can ask yourself how complicated it must have been and how much time it must have taken. I have an attachement for realistic drawing and some of Louis XIV tapestries are just fantastic piece of work.

The French King, during is reign, has gathered 304 differents tapestries and was only rivaled by Henri VIII, King of England, in the amount of his possessions.

Coronation celebration and ceremonies, hunting scenes, Old Testament, Mythology or Alexander war stories, angels, nature...

You will discover a lot of amazing scenes as well as some drawings that were made to help the artist to create his masterpiece. Most of the tapestries under Louis XIV brought the art of Renaissance from Rome to Paris and throught the art, you learn a lot about the French history.

It was a great combination between art and history. I'm very glad I've been able to appreciate this awesome collection.

A very good surprise!
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely illustrated monograph that accompanied the first-of-its-kind exhibit at the Getty Center. Tapestries have been considered more of a decorative, and thus lesser, art as well as one that is collaborative by its nature and thus not presenting a singular artistic vision. However, the exhibit makes clear the high level of accomplishment and beauty of the best tapestries puts them on a par with the masterpiece paintings of their time.

[Eileen Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive catalogue of Tapestries woven with gold thread and other materials for the Sun King Louis XIV.
This great collection showcased the dedicated weavers of Northern Europe and their skills were second to none.
We will never see their like again as these days tapestries are machine made.
Recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Getty Publications via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[John Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opulence which surrounded the French
monarchs is brought into stark focus
with this book.
Focusing on the stunning beauty of the tapestries
commissioned by them.