Category:Four Continents suite of tapestries by Jean-Jacques-François Le Barbier
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English: This suite of four remarkable tapestries with coordinating upholstery was commissioned by Louis XVI, perhaps as a diplomatic gift to George Washington. The suite’s survival is miraculous, given the upheaval of the French Revolution and the fact that they were made for the French king, who was guillotined in 1793. The suite is seen here in a complete room setting, as intended. In the sixteenth century, Europeans began portraying the Four Continents as human figures surrounded by details that marked their status relative to Europe. By the time these tapestries were made, the Four Continents iconography was well established. In the Beauvais tapestries, Asia (cat. no. 102d) basks amid precious spices, tea, pearls, porcelain, and silk. Africa (cat. no. 102c) accepts trade goods in exchange for ivory and ostrich feathers as she reigns over a wilderness of dangerous beasts. Europe (cat. no. 102b) is surrounded by symbols of the arts and war as well as commerce, marked by the barrels, a bale, and a sail in the lower left corner. The depiction of America (cat. no. 102a) as a demure young woman sets this iconographic scheme apart. In earlier representations she is a scantily clad, spear-toting, armadillo-riding, cannibalistic warrior princess. Here she appears modest and dependent on the protection of Liberty and Minerva, the goddess of war and wisdom whose shield bears France’s fleur-de-lis. In addition to this iconographic shift, the Indian princess, who had originally stood for the entire Western hemisphere, here represents only the United States. This reworked concept of America defended by France (Minerva), symbolizing France’s support during the American Revolution, was suggested by none other than Benjamin Franklin (The MET).
Media in category "Four Continents suite of tapestries by Jean-Jacques-François Le Barbier"
The following 40 files are in this category, out of 40 total.
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Africa from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291761.jpg 3,971 × 3,238; 3.17 MB
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Africa from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291762.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 3.5 MB
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Africa from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291763.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 3.67 MB
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Africa from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291766.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 4.13 MB
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Africa from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291770.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 4.12 MB
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Africa from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291774.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 4.05 MB
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Africa from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291775.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 4.5 MB
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Africa from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291777.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 3.77 MB
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Africa from a set of The Four Continents MET DT1848.jpg 1,905 × 1,545; 2.63 MB
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Africa from a set of The Four Continents MET TP203.jpg 2,689 × 2,203; 2.41 MB
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America from a set of The Four Continents MET 215151.jpg 1,820 × 1,456; 421 KB
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America from a set of The Four Continents MET 215152.jpg 1,864 × 1,468; 840 KB
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America from a set of The Four Continents MET 215153.jpg 1,888 × 1,496; 701 KB
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America from a set of The Four Continents MET 215154.jpg 1,468 × 1,868; 854 KB
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America from a set of The Four Continents MET 215155.jpg 1,896 × 1,480; 773 KB
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America from a set of The Four Continents MET AR1328.jpg 742 × 602; 165 KB
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America from a set of The Four Continents MET AR1329.jpg 768 × 512; 119 KB
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America from a set of The Four Continents MET AR1330.jpg 768 × 512; 103 KB
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America from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291683.jpg 3,971 × 3,272; 2.88 MB
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America from a set of The Four Continents MET DT1846.jpg 1,905 × 1,551; 2.49 MB
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Asia from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291783.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 3.5 MB
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Asia from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291784.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 3.65 MB
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Asia from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291786.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 3.19 MB
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Asia from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291789.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 4.75 MB
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Asia from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291790.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 4.57 MB
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Asia from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291791.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 4.17 MB
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Asia from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291794.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 4.58 MB
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Asia from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291796.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 4.02 MB
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Asia from a set of The Four Continents MET DT1849.jpg 1,905 × 1,381; 2.37 MB
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Asia from a set of The Four Continents MET TP204.jpg 2,791 × 2,059; 2.26 MB
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Europe from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291735.jpg 3,971 × 2,970; 2.71 MB
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Europe from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291736.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 3.57 MB
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Europe from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291737.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 3.67 MB
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Europe from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291738.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 3.69 MB
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Europe from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291741.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 3.99 MB
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Europe from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291742.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 4.11 MB
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Europe from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291744.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 4.11 MB
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Europe from a set of The Four Continents MET DP291759.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 2.62 MB
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Europe from a set of The Four Continents MET DT1847.jpg 1,905 × 1,407; 2.32 MB
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Europe from a set of The Four Continents MET TP202.jpg 2,791 × 2,095; 2.1 MB