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Allegories of Air (Cephalus and Aurora) and Earth (Vertumnus and Pomona)

designed 1758–67, woven 1764–71
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 514
The Tapestry Room from Croome Court, Worcestershire, the seat of the Earls of Coventry, was begun in 1763 and finished in 1771. The sixth Earl of Coventry (1722–1809) commissioned these tapestries for Croome Court from Jacques Neilson's workshop at the Royal Gobelins Manufactory in Paris in August 1763. Portraying scenes from classical myths symbolizing the elements, the medallions are based on designs by François Boucher. The set was delivered and in place by June 1771. The group was the first using this design to be woven with a crimson background and it may have been the first made specifically to extend around four walls of a room without architectural frames.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Allegories of Air (Cephalus and Aurora) and Earth (Vertumnus and Pomona)
  • Designer: General conception by Jacques Germain Soufflot (French, Irancy 1713–1780 Paris)
  • Designer: Pictorial medallions designed by François Boucher (French, Paris 1703–1770 Paris)
  • Designer: Alentours designed by Maurice Jacques (French, 1712–1784)
  • Maker: Low-warp workshop of Jacques Neilson (French, 1714–1788)
  • Manufactory: Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins (French, established 1662)
  • Patron: Commissioned for George William Coventry, 6th earl of Coventry (Croome Court, Worcestershire, England)
  • Date: designed 1758–67, woven 1764–71
  • Culture: French, Paris
  • Medium: Wool, silk (22-24 warps per inch, 9-10 per cm)
  • Dimensions: H. 10 ft. x W. 27 ft., 3 in. (3.05 m. x 8.31 m.)
  • Classification: Textiles-Tapestries
  • Credit Line: Gift of Samuel H. Kress Foundation, 1958
  • Object Number: 58.75.2
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Allegory of Water (Neptune Rescuing Amymone), Jacques Germain Soufflot French, Wool, silk (22-24 warps per inch, 9-10 per cm), French, Paris
Allegory of Water (Neptune Rescuing Amymone)
Multiple artists/makers
designed 1758–67, woven 1764–71
Two overdoor panels with vases, Jacques Germain Soufflot French, Wool, silk (22-24 warps per inch, 9–10 per cm.), French, Paris
Two overdoor panels with vases
Multiple artists/makers
designed 1758–67, woven 1764–71
Allegory of Fire (Venus Visiting Vulcan), Jacques Germain Soufflot French, Wool, silk (22-24 warps per inch, 9–10 per cm.), French, Paris
Allegory of Fire (Venus Visiting Vulcan)
Multiple artists/makers
designed 1758–67, woven 1764–71
Vertical Panels with Cherry Spray, Jacques Germain Soufflot French, Wool, silk (22-24 warps per inch, 9–10 per cm.), French, Paris
Vertical Panels with Cherry Spray
Multiple artists/makers
designed 1758–67, woven 1764–71
Mirror surround with vases, Jacques Germain Soufflot French, Wool, silk (22-24 warps per inch, 9–10 per cm.), French, Paris
Mirror surround with vases
Multiple artists/makers
designed 1758–67, woven 1764–71

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