Armrest

Art Historical Context

This exquisite armrest tapestry, created between 1754 and 1756, exemplifies the opulent Rococo style of mid-18th-century France Designed by the renowned painter and tapestry artist Jean-Baptiste Oudry for the Beauvais manufactory, and likely woven by master weaver André Charlemagne Char, it measures a compact 12 x 8 inches (30.5 x 20.3 cm). Woven from luxurious wool and silk, this-warp textile was crafted to adorn furniture, transforming everyday armrests into vibrant displays of artistry. Oudry, celebrated for his lively depictions of nature, infused the piece with intricate motifs of birds and flowers, rendered in vivid colors and dynamic compositions. Beauvais tapestries, distinct from the grand Gobelins works, were prized for their portability and use in domestic interiors, reflecting the era's taste for playful elegance amid the courts of Louis XV. The silk highlights added a shimmering luster, enhancing the naturalistic charm. A generous gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1935, this armrest invites visitors to appreciate the fusion of fine art and decorative craft, a testament to French textile mastery that brought the beauty of gardens indoors.

About the Artist

Jean-Baptiste Oudry|Jean-Baptiste Oudry|Beauvais|André Charlemagne Charron · 1686–1755

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