Tapestry
1740-1760 (woven)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This tapestry comes from the celebrated Portières des Dieux series, designed by Claude Audran III (1658-1734) for the French royal tapestry manufactory, the Gobelins. The series depicts the four seasons and four elements and enjoyed such widespread popularity that it was re-woven continuously between 1700 and 1789.
Here the figure of Saturn, the God of agriculture, becomes an allegorical representation of winter: the deity's festival, Saturnalia, was traditionally held in the month of December. Seated in profile, Saturn wields his attribute, the scythe, while beneath him two putti emerge from the clouds blowing flurries of snow. The wintry group are framed by delicate arabesques and garlands of foliage bearing seasonal fruit.
Here the figure of Saturn, the God of agriculture, becomes an allegorical representation of winter: the deity's festival, Saturnalia, was traditionally held in the month of December. Seated in profile, Saturn wields his attribute, the scythe, while beneath him two putti emerge from the clouds blowing flurries of snow. The wintry group are framed by delicate arabesques and garlands of foliage bearing seasonal fruit.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tapestry, woven in wool and silk |
| Brief description | Tapestry in wool and silk, showing 'Saturn' or 'Winter'; Portières des Dieux, Gobelins; Paris, 1740-1760 |
| Physical description | Tapestry, silk and wool on woollen warps. 21 warps to the inch. The tapestry depicts Saturn, the god of agriculture. Seated in profile, he wields the scythe. Beneath him two putti emerge from the clouds blowing flurries of snow. The scene if framed by delicate arabesques and garlands of foliage bearing seasonal fruit. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by the Dowager Viscountess Harcourt GBE |
| Historical context | The series includes Diana, Neptune, Saturn, Jupiter, Bacchus, Venus, Ceres and Juno, all with their respective attributes. This series is not to be confused with Audran's later and quite similar series of arabesque portières: Les Mois (1709), which are smaller in scale and therefore suitable for residences other than royal palaces. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This tapestry comes from the celebrated Portières des Dieux series, designed by Claude Audran III (1658-1734) for the French royal tapestry manufactory, the Gobelins. The series depicts the four seasons and four elements and enjoyed such widespread popularity that it was re-woven continuously between 1700 and 1789. Here the figure of Saturn, the God of agriculture, becomes an allegorical representation of winter: the deity's festival, Saturnalia, was traditionally held in the month of December. Seated in profile, Saturn wields his attribute, the scythe, while beneath him two putti emerge from the clouds blowing flurries of snow. The wintry group are framed by delicate arabesques and garlands of foliage bearing seasonal fruit. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.767-1950 |
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| Record created | January 30, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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