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LA BELLE VIE
Ham House is one of the best preserved and grandest 17th century mansions in England. When the 4th Earl of Dysart inherited Ham House in 1727, he removed all the earlier tapestries and installed what is now the most impressive tapestry set in the house: the four Pastorals that hang in the Queen’s Bed Chamber.
The Pastorals represent a new style in European tapestry design, based on the Fêtes Galantes of Antoine Watteau. However the scenes in these tapestries are actually made up of figures taken from the work of Watteau and two of his followers, Nicolas Lancret and Jean-Baptiste Pater. William Bradshaw made the tapestries and his signature appears prominently on the Pastorals. We have adapted the original tapestries into 4 scenes and a beautiful panorama.
THE DANCE
The Dance (520 x 300 cm) depicts a man and woman dancing, to their right a man plays a flute surrounded by a group of women and girls.
THE SWING
The Swing (280 x 300 cm) shows a young man pushing a woman on a swing suspended between two trees. To their left are two amorous couples and in the distance we see a viaduct over a river.
THE FOUNTAIN
The Fountain (280 x 300 cm) shows a large decorated stone fountain next to which a lady in a cream silk dress stands with a man holding a cane. To the left a man sits on the grass playing a baroque guitar.
FRUIT PICKING
Fruit Picking (520 x 300 cm) depicts a young lady catching fruit in her apron. Girls play by a basket of fruit while, nearby, a man whispers into the ear a woman. In the centre a young man extends his hand to a lady sitting on the ground.
La Belle Vie is available as:
Tapestry Wall Hangings
Petite Tapestry Wall Hangings
Printed Linen Panels
Panoramic Wallpaper
La Belle Vie - Orchard is a complimentary repeat pattern derived from La Belle Vie and is available as:
Printed Linen
Wallpaper
