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This fantastic toile peinte from circa 1860, entitled The Children Gardeners, depicts 10 children tending a garden beside a classic French fountain.  The colorful painting would most likely have been used as a “cartoon” for a tapestry studio to weave their textile.  Similar 18th century tapestries by Gobelin can be seen in museums across the world.  Cartoons such as this one are based off of works by the 17th century French painter, Charles Le Brun.  Le Brun served as a court painter to Louis XIV, who proclaimed Le Brun to be the “greatest artist of all-time”.

CONDITION: Good antique condition.  Very light losses in small areas of the main scene, with light age separations seen on the edges.  The toile is suspended to a wooden board for hanging purposes (two D-rings have been installed on the back of the board).  Old patches to the verso, coupled with a small restored area in the upper left (see detail photos).  Some aspects, most noticeably the border, have faded motifs and/or very light creasing.