Elie MAINGONNAT

Le tiercelet (the tercel)

Aubusson tapestry woven by the Legoueix workshop.
With label signed by the artist’s beneficiary, n°E.A.1.
1942.

Elie Maingonnat governed the Ecole Nationale des Arts Décoratifs d’Aubusson from 1930 until 1958 where he took over from Marium Martin (who already recommended the use of a limited number of colours and the use of hachures, a similar technique to hatching) of whom he was a pupil. As well as assuming the responsibilities of his position, Maingonnat devoted himself to designing cartoons : motifs of dense vegetation animated by the presence of a few animals, both of which were inspired by the flora and fauna of the Limousin area of France revitalising the traditional theme of greenery used in the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries.

Our cartoon is typical of Maingonnat’s work: the local flora and fauna (here, a small tercel amongst the gentians, by the banks of a torrent) are depicted in a limited palette of complementary grey-green hues, set off by the browns of the river rocks.