Orion

 

Aubusson tapestry woven by the Tabard workshop.
1943.

 

 

 

Lurçat approached Saint-Saëns, originally a painter of murals, in 1940. And during the war the latter produced the first of his allegorical masterpieces,
tapestries reflecting indignation, combat, resistance : “les Vierges folles (the foolish virgins), “Thésée et le Minotaure” (Theseus and the Minotaur). At the end of the war, as a natural development he joined up with Lurçat, whose convictions he shared (concerning a simplified palette, outlined cartoons with colours indicated by pre-ordained numbers, and the specific nature of tapestry design…) at the A.P.C.T. (Association des Peintres-cartonniers de Tapisserie). His universe, where the human figure, stretched, elongated, ooccupies an important place (particularly when compared to his companions Lurçat or Picart le Doux), pivots around traditional themes : woman, the Commedia dell’arte, Greek mythology… refined by the brilliance of the colours and the simplification of the layout. His work would evolve later, in the 1960’s, towards cartoons of a more lyrical design, almost abstract where elemental and cosmic forces would dominate.

 

 

« Orion » was commissioned by Dr. Guilhem, Saint-Saëns’ brother-in-law… The wildly galoping horse carries Orion, the object of Diane’s love, off to the firmament where he will take his place amongst the constellations. The sense of movement, the agitation of the cloth, the rippling muscles of the horseman all anticipate “Thésée et le minotaure”  (Theseus and the minotaur). 12 copies were made of Orion, all by the Tabard workshop, which is an indication of the considerable popularity of this cartoon. (Catalogue of the exhibition Saint-Saëns, oeuvre tissé, Aubusson, Musée départemental de la Tapisserie, 1987, p.10)
This tapestry is a variant dating from 1943 where Sirius, Orion’s faithful hound, accompanies him (as in astronomy where Sirius, the star, is in close vicinity to the constellation of Orion).

 

Bibliography :
Exhibition catalogue Saint-Saëns, oeuvre tissé, Aubusson, Musée départemental de la Tapisserie, 1987
Exhibition catalogue Marc Saint-Saëns, tapisseries, 1935-1979, Angers, Musée Jean Lurçat et de la Tapisserie Contemporaine, 1997-1998, ill. p.22