A French Aubusson tapestry which is very likely part of a set from 'The Story of Telemachus' woven at Aubusson between 1776 and 1800 after engraved designs by various painters including François Boucher Antonio Tempesta and Charles Monnet. These tapestries were probably woven at the workshop of Gabriel Babonneix.

This episode describes Telemachus and Mentor relating their tales to Calypso. Telemachus, Odysseus’ son and Mentor, Odysseus’ long-time friend go on a journey to find out news about Odysseus’ whereabouts after he has been missing for twenty years. For seven of those years, he was imprisoned on the nymph Calypso’s island, until the gods intervened and forced her to let him go. When Telemachus and Mentor arrived on her island, Calypso is still mourning the loss of her beloved Odysseus. She recognizes the similarities between Odysseus and Telemachus, and knows that he is the son of the hero. She pretends not to know who he is, and tells him that no one is to enter her island.

Telemachus tells her who his father is, and asks for her mercy. Calypso is so impressed by the youth, she offers him a warm greeting and shows him the natural beauty of her island. She reveals to him that his father Odysseus had in fact been to her island, and she laments his having left her broken-hearted. Telemachus regales her with stories of his adventures prior to his landing at her island. This tapestry was woven after an engraving by J. Collyer after a drawing by Charles Monnet, Peintre du Roi (Painter of the King Louis 16th). Monnet illustrated the original 'Adventures of Telemachus' of Fénelon in 1699. The engraving that inspired the tapestry’s makers was included in Fénelon’s book. Wool with silk inlay. Measures: 9’7” H x 7’0” W.

Hanging: The tapestry comes ready for hanging, with linen backing and a strip of hook and loop tape at the top end, which can be connected to the opposite side of the supplied hook and loop tape, which could be tacked to your wall. For those who prefer the use of a tapestry rod, we can add the appropriate size loops to accommodate your needs. We now have a large selection of antique tapestry rods available as well, which we can provide detail upon request.

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