Chair back

Art Historical Context

This exquisite chair back, woven in wool and silk by the renowned Beauvais tapestry manufactory around 1754–56, showcases the masterful designs of Jean-Baptiste Oudry, a leading French Rococo artist. Measuring about 29 by 24 inches, it was crafted as a luxurious upholstery panel for high-style furniture, highlighting the era's obsession with opulent interiors. Oudry, celebrated for his vivid animal depictions and naturalistic motifs, collaborated with weavers like André Charlemagne Charron to bring his cartoons to life in sumptuous textiles destined for aristocratic salons. The design bursts with playful Rococo charm: graceful swans glide amid blooming flowers, while curious squirrels scamper through foliage, all rendered with intricate detail and luminous silk highlights against the wool ground. This technique not only ensured durability for everyday use but also captured the period's delight in nature's whimsy, blending realism with elegant fantasy—a hallmark of Oudry's influence at Beauvais. A gift to The Metropolitan Museum of Art from John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1935, this piece embodies mid-18th-century French decorative arts at their peak, reflecting Louis XV-era refinement and the enduring legacy of Beauvais as a center for innovative tapestry production.

About the Artist

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

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