Lecture “Manufacture des Gobelins and Its Artistic Production”
The exhibition “Metamorphoses. Power. Violence. Gender” brings to the Kadriorg Art Museum, for the first time, a series of imposing tapestries woven at the legendary Manufacture des Gobelins in France. The history of the Manufacture des Gobelins and its outstanding artistic production will be presented by Arnaud Denis, Collections Inspector at Les Manufactures nationales. The lecture will be given in English.
In the second half of the 17th century, Charles Le Brun, court painter to Louis XIV and chief designer of the Manufacture des Gobelins, created a number of monumental tapestry series for the French royal court. Produced primarily between the 1660s and 1680s, these works were intended to adorn royal residences. The Manufacture des Gobelins thus became both an instrument of royal propaganda and a leading centre of the French luxury arts, with its creations designed to impress not only the court but also European rulers and diplomats. The exhibition features one version of the sumptuous tapestry Spring, which directly served as a model and source of inspiration for the decorative programme of the Great Hall of Kadriorg Palace.
Mobilier national is a French public cultural institution under the Ministry of Culture, responsible for preserving, restoring, and presenting France’s exceptional collections of furniture, textiles, and decorative arts. It also oversees the furnishing of state buildings and residences and works to preserve and develop traditional craft skills, bringing together historical heritage with contemporary design and artistic creation. Since 2025, Mobilier national has formed part of Les Manufactures nationales, a major public institution bringing together France’s heritage in artistic crafts, decorative arts, design, museums, and historic manufactures, while supporting the transmission and international promotion of traditional skills.
