The Labenche Museum, French museum of Art and History, Brive, Correze, France: its collections, its exhibitions...the Labenche museum is associated with the art museum of Joliette, Quebec.

Mortlake Tapestries
(1st floor, rooms 1-2)

This collection has been presented in two of the Renaissance wing rooms on the first floor of this old mansion since 1996.

From 1982 to 1995 the museum built up a collection of seven items made in the Royal English workshop in Mortlake.

Set up around 1620 by Francis Crane in Mortlake, Surrey, near London, the workshop was bought by Charles the 1st in 1637. Having thus become a royal manufactury it specialized in high-loom tapestry.

"Fête de nuit à la lueur des torches après la chasse"
(A night celebration in the light of torches after the hunt)
(1640 - 1646)

In 1649 the factory was almost jeopardized by the Revolution. After this troubled period, the workshop continued to produce new and beautiful hangings during Charles the Second's reign and closed in 1703.

"La chasse au renard"
(Fox hunting).

Even though the workshop shut down before the end of the 17th century it left impressive masterpieces behind. The workshop is actually considered as the best one that England has ever had.

It was founded to surpass and supersede the French and Flemish creations and to take first place in the economic rivalry of the day in the world of decorative arts.

Influenced by the work of Raphaël, Rubens and Van Dyck, the master tapestry-makers in Mortlake achieved perfection in their technique. These high-loom tapestries were intended for International high society.

Amongst the seven tapestries presented, three belonging to the "Hunt" tapestry had been kept in a château in Cosnac (Corrèze) since the 18th century. These three items, acquired by the local authority in 1982 were the starting point of this collection.

The Museum of History and Art in Brive-la-Gaillarde has become a unique place in France where the general public can come and discover and admire the diverse facets of this remarkable creation.

Mortlake Tapestries (1st floor, rooms 1-2)

Mortlake Tapestries
(1st floor, rooms 1-2)