Old Masters, Allegory, Four Elements, Air, Charles Le Brun, Antique Print, Paris, late 17th Century

The winds tapestry shows a group of birds — animals associated with the air — as an audience to classical figures. A writer in Time magazine explained its underlying political symbolism:

A companion tapestry (previously sold by George Glazer Gallery) representing Earth depicts gods and goddesses representing Earth (Ceres and Cybele), Water (Neptune and Amphitrite) and Air (Juno and Iris) with an audience of a lion and camel, earthbound animals.

One of the great French Baroque painters, Charles Le Brun trained under the direction of the painter Simon Vouet, in France and Rome. He became the principal interpreter of the political and artistic prestige of France as First Painter of the court of King Louis XIV. In that capacity he decorated most of the king’s palaces, planned Versailles’ garden statues, and created several grand series of decorative cycles of tapestries to decorate Versailles and other palaces. The famous Gobelins royal tapestry factory was founded in 1662 to produce tapestries for Louis XIV, including Le Brun’s elaborate designs. Among the tapestry series he created were the planets, the worship of Apollo, the four elements, the four seasons, the four hours of the day, the four parts of the world, and the four temperaments of the man. Today, Le Brun’s paintings and tapestries are in palaces and museums throughout France, including a large collection in the Louvre.

Sébastian Le Clerc the Elder was a French draftsman and engraver. He was taught drawing and engraving by his father, a goldsmith, then came to Paris where he continued his studies. Under the guidance of Charles Le Brun, who served as First Painter to King Louis XIV, he became a well-regarded engraver, and an extraordinarily busy one – one scholar has catalogued almost 3,400 prints. Le Clerc became a member of the Academy in 1672 and taught perspective there. He also served as Engraver to the King and taught at Gobelins royal tapestry factory.

Condition: Generally very good, recently professionally cleaned and restored with only minor remaining toning and wear. Restoration included remargining of left and bottom margins, restoration of slight defects to the other margins, and backing overall with Japanese tissue.

References:

Bénézit, E. Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs. France: Librairie Gründ, 1966. Vol. 5, p. 465 (LeClerc).

“Versailles La Visite.” Editions Montparnasse. 1999. http://www.a-versailles-dvd.com/visite_web/biograph.html (28 January 2003).

“Warp and Woof for the Ages.” Time. 30 September 1966. Online at http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,836458,00.html?promoid=googlep (1 August 2007).