Study On The Series Of Manufacture Des Beauvais:Tenture De L’ Empereur De Chine

In the reign of Louis XIV, Manufacture Royale des Beauvais developed quickly under the skillful direction of Philippe Béhagle and executed a successful Chinese series Première Tenture Chinois. This series has caused attention of historians and tapestry experts for a long time as it is the antecedent of all the other orientalizing works that would be classified as chinoiserie. This article focuses on the duke of Toulouse’s Première Tenture Chinois and will discuss in three aspects:the china-mania in court of Louis XIV; the culture communication by missionaries between K’anh-Hi and the French king; how the image of emperor of China was introduced into Europe; and the characteristics of early chinoiserie. Chapter one the Execution of Première Tenture Chinois with three parts: "Manufacture Royale des Beauvais ", "duc du Maine’s patronage and the mission of East", "Philippe Béhagle and designers". This chapter will intend to introduce the tapestry’s execution time, royal background, designers and so on. Chapter Two Comte de Toulouse’s Première Tenture Chinois will pay attention to the fourth set of the Première Tenture Chinois to present its sponsor, provenance and nine scenes. Chapter Three China and Emperor of Première Tenture Chinois will discuss on works of Johan Nieuhof and Athanasius Kircher which is the main visual sources of this tapestry, also with other books that present vivid information of China. Chapter Four The Meaning of Première Tenture Chinois: "the great ambition of the king : Louis XIV’s science diplomacy", "taste and aesthetics: the exotic tapestry", "chinoiserie: from Première Tenture Chinois to La Seconde Tenture Chinois", will describe tapestry’s political implication, the significance of tapestry style and chinoiserie.