Les Amours des Dieux

Famous for his pastoral and mythological paintings, Francois Boucher was commissioned by King Louis XVI to create a set of nine tapestries based on mythological themes. Les Armours des Dieux is one of his most celebrated works. Adorned with the king’s coat of arms at the top, the tapestry portrays the Greek god Apollo courting his love, Clytie, the water nymph daughter of Oceanus. Accompanied by cherubs, the tapestry is notable for its free use of nudity, a sign of the relative freedom the arts enjoyed during the reign of Louis XVI. Boucher’s design was woven at the Manufacture Royale de Beauvais in the mid 18th century. His romantic scenes continue to be popular with discerning collectors. This tapestry is lined and has a tunnel for easy hanging.