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The Camel from a set of five Grotesques

designed ca. 1688, woven ca. 1690–1711
Not on view
Presenting musicians, acrobats, and exotic animals within a fanciful architectural setting, this tapestry is from a set known as the Berain Grotesques, in reference to the pervasive stylistic influence of Jean Berain (1640–1711), who may even have provided preliminary sketches. The lighthearted subject matter and whimsical design contrast with the heavier, ornate style that had characterized French tapestry during the third quarter of the seventeenth century. The series enjoyed immense popularity during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, and the Beauvais workshop produced many weavings for French clients.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Camel from a set of five Grotesques
  • Designer: Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer (French, Lille 1636–1699 London)
  • Artist: Style of Jean Berain (French, Saint-Mihiel 1640–1711 Paris)
  • Designer: Designed by Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer (French, Lille 1636–1699 London)
  • Designer: Border designed by Guy Louis Vernansal the Elder (French, Fontainebleau 1648–1729 Paris)
  • Manufactory: Beauvais
  • Workshop director: Philippe Béhagle (French, 1641–1705) , or his son Philippe
  • Date: designed ca. 1688, woven ca. 1690–1711
  • Culture: French, Beauvais
  • Medium: Wool, silk (21-27 warps per inch, 8-9 per cm.)
  • Dimensions: 9 ft. 10 in. × 17 ft. 4 1/2 in. (299.7 × 529.6 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles-Tapestries
  • Credit Line: Gift of John M. Schiff, 1977
  • Object Number: 1977.437.1
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Musicians and Dancers from a set of five Grotesques, Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer French, Wool, silk (21-27 warps per inch, 8-9 per cm.), French, Beauvais
Musicians and Dancers from a set of five Grotesques
Multiple artists/makers
designed ca. 1688, woven ca. 1690–1711
Basket of Flowers, Titlepage to the 'Book of Several Baskets of Flowers' (Livre de Plusieurs Corbeilles de Fleurs (...))
Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer
Nicolas de Poilly
17th century
Livre de Toutes Sortes De Fleurs D'apres Nature, Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer French, Engraving
Livre de Toutes Sortes De Fleurs D'apres Nature
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1670–80
The Elephant from a set of five Grotesques, Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer French, Wool, silk (21-27 warps per inch, 8-9 per cm.), French, Beauvais
The Elephant from a set of five Grotesques
Multiple artists/makers
designed ca. 1688, woven ca. 1690–1711
Flowers in a Vase, Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer French, Etching and engraving
Flowers in a Vase
Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer
Nicolas de Poilly
ca.1670–80

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