A la Cour du Roy

This tapestry shows the elaborate setting up of a Joust tournament in medieval times. This tapestry is based faithfully on the original “Une Descente de Tournoi a la Fin du XV Siecle” by Jean-Paul Laurens (1838- 1921). The original tapestry was woven at the Royal Manufacture of Gobelins from 1895 to 1899. This historic tapestry is filled with detail and displays the intricate activities of a jousting tournament where the royal family and their court would gather to attend the ceremonies, the tournament and dances as well. We see here the helmets, banners, jousts, and shields being prepared as well as the nobility gathering on the left to prepare their factions of knights and to discuss the tournament proceedings. A row of spectators from the kingdom is seen toward the distance as is the tournament grounds itself. The banner “fortis et fidelis” means “strong and faithful”. A truly intricate tapestry showing the elaborate festivities of these tournaments. This tapestry is backed with lining and tunnel for ease of hanging.