Rare Gobelins tapestries from Paris go on view, first time since 1982

We have another opportunity to view rare 18th century pieces of history (art history!). The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is displaying four very rare Gobelin tapestries, The Jason Tapestries, through April 15, 2015.

The tapestries are not kept on display due to their size and their fragility.  The Atheneum is displaying them for a limited time in its Morgan Great Hall.

The Morgan Great Hall aka Tapestry Hall, in 1920 - 40 years before The Jason Story Tapestries were donated. Image via Wadsworth Atheneum.

The Morgan Great Hall in 1947, displayed are the enormous tapestries from The Jason Story.  The largest of the set, called "Jason subdues the fire-breathing bulls of Mars (Ares) with enchanted herbs," can be seen on the left. (you can see the white bull of Mars) Image via Wadsworth Atheneum.

The Morgan Great Hall became known as Tapestry Hall because  J. Pierpont Morgan Jr. loaned 10 tapestries to adorn its walls in 1915.¹  When J. P. Morgan Jr. died in 1943 the original tapestries were returned to the Morgan estate.

We are lucky to have the chance to see them now because in the 1960s they were nearly destroyed!

They depict the story of Jason and Medea from Ovid's Metamorphosis. The tapestries were designed as a set of 7 by Jean Francois de Troy between 1750 and 1794 and woven in Paris by Manufacture des Gobelins.  Gobelins produced tapestries for the courts of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI.

Of the full set, the Wadsworth has panels 2, 3, 5 and 6. The largest one is 25 feet long and depicts the bulls of Mars, "Jason subdues the fire-breathing bulls of Mars (Ares) with enchanted herbs". They were gifted to the Museum by E. M. Hillard in 1946, previously owned by Lord Iveagh in London.³

Workers washing 18th century tapestry at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Image by Alan Decker. ³

In the 1960s four of the tapestries were dry cleaned, an event that was labeled as disastrous.  "'They should never have been cleaned - they were almost destroyed by the chemicals,' said a museum spokesman." ³ The tapestries sat in storage for the next 20 years.

In 1982 they were brought out but needed to be cleaned and restored.  The task would cost an estimated $13,000.  The Atheneum had conservators work on the tapestries in plain view.  Visitors to the museum could watch the restoration process live in Gengras Court, an open-air courtyard at the center of the museum campus.  Once the restoration was complete the tapestries were exhibited.

Don't miss this chance to view them if possible!

Detail. Troy, Jean François de (French, 1679-1752) (author of design & cartoon creator) [painter]; Chevillon (French, act. 1740-1760) (author of design, borders) [painter]; Cozette, Pierre-François (French, b.1714-d.1801) (workshop) [weaver]; Audran, Michel (French, b.1701-d.1771) (workshop) [weaver].  Marriage of Jason and Creusa, Story of Jason, Panel 5. 1751-1793, Gobelins Textiles - Tapestries. Wadsworth Atheneum.

Troy, Jean François de (author of design & cartoon creator) [painter] Chevillon (author of design, borders) [painter] Audran, Michel (workshop) [weaver] or Cozette, Pierre-François (workshop) [weaver], "Jason subdues the fire-breathing bulls of Mars (Ares) with enchanted herbs, " Story of Jason panel 2. Gobelins manufactory - textiles, tapestry. Wadsworth Atheneum. West Hartford News.

Troy, Jean François de (French, 1679-1752) (author of design & cartoon creator) [painter]; Chevillon (French, act. 1740-1760) (author of design, borders) [painter]; Audran, Michel (French, b.1701-d.1771) (workshop) [weaver]. "Creusa consumed by flames after putting on the poisoned robe" Story of Jason. 1761-1793, Gobelins manufactory - textiles, tapestry. Wadsworth Atheneum.

Troy, Jean François de (author of design & cartoon creator) [painter] Chevillon (author of design, borders) [painter] Audran, Michel (workshop) [weaver] or Cozette, Pierre-François (workshop) [weaver], "Soldiers born from dragon's teeth fight against each other" Story of Jason panel 3. Gobelins manufactory - textiles, tapestry. Wadsworth Atheneum.

¹   "The Jason Tapestries." Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. November 8, 2014. Accessed March 10, 2015. http://thewadsworth.org/exhibitions/jasontapestries/.
²   "Four Tapestries Given to Museum by E. M. Hilliard." The Hartford Courant (1923-1989), Sep 29, 1946. http://search.proquest.com/docview/560647133?accountid=13645.
 ³   Charles, Eleanor. "Tapestries get a sudsy fresh start." The New York Times. May 22, 1982. Accessed March 10, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/23/nyregion/tapestries-get-a-sudsy-fresh-start.html.