Cleveland Museum of Art

Youth (from Chateau de Chaumont set)

Date

1512–15

Medium

silk and wool; tapestry weave

Culture

France, Lyon(?), early 16th century

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Louise of Savoy (1476-1531), queen mother of King Francis I, is depicted here in a sumptuous brocaded velvet in the center. She addresses youthful figures including Éléonore, Pierre Sala’s daughter who is facing her future husband, Hector. On the right, King Louis XII (died 1514) stands in front of the Chateau Langais where he had married Anne of Brittany. Above is Hector’s deceased father with a partially concealed skull under his robe, while a woman expresses surprise at the sight. The verse in Old French at the top states that youthful happiness is not eternal: Youth makes sounds as long as its heart is healthy, And thinks that it holds all in its hand. But this triumph is not eternal. Here you see clearly an example: He that is happy has death in his breast. Of this you people should take note.

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