other considerable tapestry works
were flourishing at Aubusson in Auvergne, at Felletin in the upper
Marches, and at Beauvais. These two last were especially famed for
velvety tapestries (_veloutes_).

As usual, the French have surpassed all other nations in this textile
art. The pictorial tapestries of the Gobelins have carried the beauty
of wall hangings to the utmost perfection. Nothing can be more festive
than a brilliantly lighted hall, glowing with these woven pictures or
arabesques, framed in gilded carvings or stuccoes. Still we must
acknowledge that, in choice of worthy subjects, the Flemish ideal,
which had been left far behind, was the highest. The weavers of the
time of Louis Quatorze aspired only to teach the glories of France,
not the moralities of society and civilization, in their historical
compositions, which were then superseded by classical mythology, or
else by scenes from rustic life, of the Watteau School. La Fontaine's
fables gave some of the prettiest and gayest designs, and were
generally the centres of splendid arabesques. The drawing and
execution were perfect.

It is to be feared that in the future, great works of textile
decoration will be few and far between. It is only when the State, or
the monarch that represents the dignity of the State, protects and
fosters these artistic factories, that they can continue to thrive.
Without such powerful encouragement, fashion, commercial depression,
or a war will stop for a time the orders without which funds fail,
discouragement sets in, and ruin quickly follows; and the best workman
when unemployed, or forced for some years to wield the sword, loses
his practised skill never to be restored. In France, whatever has been
the form of government, the old traditions of protection for the
Gobelins have been acted up to and maintained. The consequence is that
science and art still contribute their efforts in the machinery, the
colouring, and the designing of hangings of which the materials[412]
and the execution are unrivalled. Probably there will never again be a
Tuileries or a Versailles to adorn, but an Hotel de Ville, especially
if it is occasionally destroyed, may give from time to time
opportunity for such decorations.

ENGLISH TAPESTRY.

When we consider the antiquity and the excellence of the art of
tapestry on the Continent, we cannot pretend that there can be the
same general interest in that of our English looms. But to ourselves
it na