THE TAPESTRY PANELS ALMOST CERTAINLY DESIGNED BY JEAN-DEMOSTHÈNE DUGOURC, CIRCA 1820

The illustrious provenance for these superb tapestry panels was suggested on the Mayorcas invoice when they were acquired by the Gutfreund’s. It is supported by the presence of a closely related design in the Mobilier National (inv. num. BEAUVAIS-1-003), which was supplied by Jean-Demosthène Dugourc (1749-1825), dessinateur du garde-meuble de la couronne, for a suite of seat furniture by Jacob in the Salon des Ambassadeurs at the Château des Tuileries, ordered by Armand Thierry de Ville d’Avray (1773-1844), Intendant général du garde meuble de la couronne, whose father Marc-Antoine was the last to hold that position under Louis XVI. Dugourc was an influential designer in the gout étrusque style at both the French and Spanish royal courts at the end of the reign of Louis XVI, but remarkably kept working into the Restauration period.