The tapestry works of Beauvais, in Picardy, were established as a private adventure about the middle of the seventeenth century, but received a large measure of royal support. Artistically speaking, its work in its great period, if inferior to that of the Gobelins, was finer than that of Aubusson. Its productions were exceedingly various - landscape, flowers, historical and domestic subjects and figure pieces ; and being more cheaply woven were sold at one-fifth the price of Gobelins tapestries. Many famous artists, with Boucher at their head, designed for the Beauvais looms. Boucher, indeed, designed close upon fifty pieces, some of which, with the Story of Psyche, a set of which is in the royal Swedish collection, are still famous and command high prices. Thus one piece of the Psyche set has fetched £12,000 at auction. Another of the most celebrated of these Boucher-Beauvais works is the Vertumnus and Pomona, which is dated 1757. Towards the end of the eighteenth century Beauvais began the making of pile rugs; its work now consists mainly of the production of coverings for furniture. The works were taken over by the State shortly after the first Revolution. Solidity of tone and softness of colouring are characteristic of the best Beauvais work, much of which still survives as coverings for the seats and backs of chairs. Love-scenes and pastorals are perhaps the most familiar motives for this purpose.