detail: Triomphe de Minerve
after Giovanni da Udine, from the Triomphe des dieux woven c. 1560
Paris, Mobilier national photo© P. Sébert
Opening today, the Manufacture des Gobelins is presenting an exhibit of the golden age of tapestry, L'Éclat de la Renaissance italienne. The twenty-odd tapestries are primarily from the collection of Louis XIV and three were acquired for the Musée des Gobelins at the end of the 19th century. The works were woven from paintings or specially made cartons for tapestries by three great Renaissance artists: Raphaël (Urbino 1483 – Rome 1520), Giovanni da Udine (Udine 1487 – Rome toward 1564) et Giulio Romano (Rome 1499 – Mantoua 1546). The exhibit will last until the 24th of July 2011.