17TH CENTURY

VERDURE TAPESTRY

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France, Circa 1680

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A bucolic scene of two figures, the female carrying a water jug upon her head, the male with a fishing line and basket. both situated within a idyllic landscape of typical verdure foliage.

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A verdure is a type of tapestry decorated with designs based on plant forms. The word 'verdure' derives from the French word 'vert', meaning green. By the 16th century, tapestries with formal designs derived from foliage had become immensely popular. In the last half of the 17th century, landscapes were incorporated into their design as seen on the present example. In France, the centre for verdure tapestry production was factories such as Aubusson and Lille.