Lost carpets of King Louis XIV displayed in Paris

The Louvre in Paris is hosting an exhibition called “The Rediscovered Treasure of the Sun King”, which showcases the magnificent carpets commissioned by Louis XIV in the 17th century.

In 1668, Louis XIV aimed to transform the Louvre into a royal residence, a place of absolute power. He appointed the painter Charles Le Brun to design 92 grand carpets to cover the floors of the Louvre gallery. These were woven by the Savonnerie Manufactory and measured nine metres wide. However, the carpets were never installed in the Louvre, as by 1678, the King had moved his court to Versailles.

The carpets were dispersed to various government buildings, and during the French Revolution, many were destroyed. Of the 92 carpets, only 41 survived, with just 33 in complete condition. A collection of 30 of these magnificent carpets will finally be displayed at the Louvre, but only for this week, from 1 to 8 February.

The exhibition is curated by Wolf Burchard from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Emmanuelle Federspiel from the French government agency Les Manufactures Nationales. The carpets are exhibited in the Grand Palais, which features a glass-domed ceiling that allows natural light to illuminate the intricate patterns of the carpets, which include mythological scenes and royal emblems in the Baroque art style. The exhibition is said to offer a rare glimpse of Louis XIV’s vision of power and luxury.

For down-to-earth yet stylish carpets that make you feel like royalty in your own home, visit a local carpet retailer in North Wales today.