Hello and welcome to Bordeaux’ Museum of Fine Art.

Moïse exposé sur les eaux
collection du Mobilier national
© I.Bideau

This exhibition, recognised as an event of “national interest” by the French Ministry of Culture, shows the entire series of tapestries of the History of Moses, after Nicolas Poussin and Charles Le Brun.
This series is composed of ten impressively large tapestries measuring 4 metres by 6, depicting the childhood of Moses, the revelation of God to Moses and the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt. Woven before 1685, these tapestries are based on eight paintings by Nicolas Poussin and two by Charles Le Brun.
This kind of decorative textile was a distinctive feature of French art at the end of the 17th century, notably those produced at the Gobelins Tapestry Manufactory. It became a genuine stylistic model which spread across Europe, enhancing the prestige of the kingdom of Louis XIV and the supremacy of French art.
Thanks to restoration work and the loan from the Mobilier National, as well as the collaboration of the Villa Medici, the Bordeaux Museum of Fine Art is able to bring this famous royal commission together for the first time in France, and show you a major work in the history of art and of French taste.

We hope you enjoy your tour!

• Interview with Marc Favreau
• Portrait by Poussin
• Portrait of Charles Le Brun
• Portrait of Louvois
• The Gobelins tapestry works
• Paintings and first tapestries
• Moses saved from the waters
• The infant Moses trampling the crown of the Pharaoh
• The Burning Bush
• The techniques of Tapestry at the Gobelins works
• Moses changing Aaron’s rod into a serpent
• The next 3 tapestries
• The Golden Calf
• The Brazen Serpent
• How these designs circulated in France
• The 12 engravings