We have dwelt at length on these details as we shall have to refer to them more than once, the tapestry of the visit to the Gobelins preserving the likeness of many works which have entirely disappeared. A copy of this fine piece of tapestry was burnt on the 30th November, 1793, together with several others bearing the arms of France and the fleurs de lis, by the insensate rabble of the quarter, calling themselves republicans; the Commune has since gone further still - it has burnt the monument itself with all the treasures it contained !

Let us return to the "Histoire du Roy." From 1667 to 1675, the tapestry of the marriage of Louis XIV. with Marie-Therese was executed; then the baptism of the Dauphin; finally we saw at the Exhibition of Costume, "l'Audience donnee par le Roy Louis XIIIL, a l'ambassadeur d'Espagne, ou il declare au nom du Roy, son maitre, qu'a l'advenir les ambassadeurs d'Espagne n'entreront plus en concurrence avec les ambassadeurs de France." This bears the dates of 1674 and 1679.

This historical style continued, even after Louis XIV., and we may mention as one of the most remarkable productions of the manufactory, the tapestries woven by Lefebvre, from the picture of Charles Parrocel, and entitled: "Entree de Mehemet effendy, grand Tresorier du Grand Seigneur, par le jardin des Thuilleries pour aller faire compliment au Roy Louis XV., sur son advenement a la couronne, le XXVI. mars MDCCXXI." Of great richness of effect, soft in tint and full of light, this piece is a type of perfection in tapestry. The signature of the painter and that of the weaver are seen on the ground part; the blue border bears besides : LEFEBVRE. G.

A charming series commenced in the period of Louis XIV. is that entitled the " Months," and which might be better qualified as the Chateaux of France. It is executed in low-warp with wonderful brilliancy and perfection. The sign of Capricorn surmounts the "Chasteau de Monceaux," which extends itself in the background of a beautiful landscape; in the foreground is a balustrade over which a dazzling carpet is thrown; behind it stand two gentlemen in rich costume of the time of Louis XIV. A signature I. P. L. CROX appears to us to be that of Jean de la Croix, director of the low-warp works, thus sung by the abbe de Marolles:

Quant a la basse lice, ou la regie est plus seure, Deux artistes Flaments, de la Croix et Mozin, Qui seuls pourroient fournir un royal magazin, N'y mettroient pas un fil sans sa juste mesure.

In signing himself L Crox, the Flemish artisan intended to conform to the then very general custom of latinising the names, a custom fertile in barbarisms. This fine piece belongs to M. Gauchez.

"La Balance" (See-saw) which we find with the arms of the Duc de Noailles, represents the "Chasteau de Chambord;" the surroundings are of the richest, and at the lower part are magnificent birds, taken from nature, "saisis sur le naturel" as they said at that time. On the border is the mark; GOB.

Gobelin tapestry Chateau of Monceaux, from the series of the "Months," after Van der Meulen. Signed, J. D. L,. Croix. (Collection of M. T,. Gaucher).

Monmerque. This artist, as we have seen, was a lowwarp contractor from 1730 to 1736.

In this rapid sketch, we could not even attempt to give a history of the works of the Gobelins; there is no ceremony er public exhibition to which the Garde-meuble does not send from the national stores marvellous tapestries almost unknown; such as the arabesques of Raffaelle, arranged by Noel Coypel, then another series of arabesques, figures and grotesques, in the style of Berain, worked on a tawny background, of which such wonderful examples are seen in M. Leopold Double's salon. We shall also have to speak of a piece belonging to this amateur, which has a twofold interest; executed on the occasion of the marriage of Louis-Auguste, Due du Maine, legitimatised son of Louis XIV. and Madame de Montespan, with Anne-Louise-Benedicte de Conde, it shows us, together with the cyphers and armorial bearings of the bride and bridegroom, the reproduction of a tapestry of the sixteenth century, representing the Duke de Guise hunting on the banks of the pond of the Convent of Sainte-Radegonde, in the forest of Montmorency. We should also mention, belonging to M. Gauchez, two reproductions executed by Chastelin and Yvard, after the cartoons of Lucas of Leyden, of the seasons: " pring" and "Summer" with a framework of those rich borders of gold flowers fleurons), bouquets, fruits, and cornucopiae, which characterise products of the royal establishment.

It may also interest connoisseurs to know that about the time of Mignard's directorship, a "Tenture des Indes" was executed, the designs for which, painted in India in eight pictures, had been presented to the king by a Prince of Orange. Some time after, the model being worn out, Desportes, in 1737, entirely remade a "nouvelle Tenture des Indes," of which we meet with brilliant specimens executed by Le Blond.

We shall say nothing of the " Chasses de Louis XV.," done by Oudry in 1733, of the great compositions of Franqois de Troy, Restout, Charles Coypel, Charles Vanloo, and Natoire, which we find signed by Audran, Neilson, etc.; we will state a fact which was to modify entirely the system of the Gobelin manufactory. A regular contest took place between the painters and the weavers, in which Jean-Baptiste Oudry took an important and perhaps a fatal part.