Floor Mat
Aubusson carpet/tapestry woven by the Goubely workshop.
1959.
Familiarized from his training in Bissière's workshop with mural art (decorations at the 1937 Exhibition), then with applied arts, especially in connection with sacred art (cartoon drawings for stained glass, liturgical ornaments,…), Manessier created his first cartoon in 1947. Disappointed by the first results, too dry and precise, he turned in the 50s to the Plasse le Caisne workshop. Using a different technique that allows for contrast of points, texture variations, differences in relief,…and greater latitude of interpretation for the weaver, in a very rich dialogue with the cartoonist, Plasse le Caisne then wove most of Manessier's tapestries, sometimes of very large dimensions (« Gregorian Chant » for the Maison de la Radio,…), sometimes forming a cycle (the 12 « Spiritual Canticles of Saint John of the Cross »),….
A very unique work by Manessier: by its function, a carpet, but woven in the Aubusson style at the Goubely workshop (their only collaboration); a unique piece, commissioned by Myriam Prévot, co-director of the Galerie de France, who presented most of the non-figurative and lyrical abstraction painters (and devoted 7 personal exhibitions to Manessier), for the decoration of her apartment on Quai d'Anjou: a testimony to the proximity of an artist with the gallerist defending him.
Bibliography :
Cat. Expo. Manessier, woven work, Church of the Château de Felletin, 1993 (reproduced p.39)
