History of the King, Gobelins
A series of tapestries showing the reign of Louis XIV, woven at the royal manufactory in Paris.
Colbert founded the Gobelins manufactory in 1662 to make everything the king’s palaces needed. The fourteen-piece series spread the image of Louis XIV as the Sun King. The tapestries are at Versailles and the Mobilier national.
Materials: Wool, silk, gold thread
Manufacture: Woven on high-warp looms after cartoons by Charles Le Brun and his studio; one tapestry took several years.
The king at the centre of every scene – at the coronation, in the field, with ambassadors.
The borders with arms, trophies and the king’s monogram.