18th tapestry Royal Aubusson Manufactory – The Sacrifice to Jupiter

18th-Century Aubusson Royal Manufactory Tapestry
The Sacrifice to Jupiter (Book X of *The Adventures of Telemachus*)

The scene is drawn from Fénelon’s famous didactic novel, *The Adventures of Telemachus* (published in 1699), which greatly inspired Aubusson’s cartoon painters and weavers throughout the 18th century.

Context of the scene (Book X): As war is about to break out between the inhabitants of the city of Salentum (ruled by King Idomeneus) and their allies (the Mandurians), the king and his generals prepare for a bloody battle. To ensure victory, Idomeneus orders a solemn sacrifice to Jupiter. It is during these preparations that Mentor (the goddess Minerva in disguise) intervenes to halt the ceremony and propose a peaceful resolution.
Iconographic analysis of the composition: The composition is strictly organized according to the conventions of 18th-century history painting:
The deity (Top left): The bronze statue of Jupiter (Zeus), king of the gods, is depicted brandishing a thunderbolt. At his feet lies his traditional attribute: the imperial eagle.
The High Priest (Center): Clad in ritual white and red drapery, an elderly, bearded priest raises his arms toward the heavens before the altar to invoke divine blessing.
The Offerings (Bottom left): A kneeling officiant prepares the sacrificial animal at the foot of the temple columns. The Heroes (Right):
The bearded, crowned figure clad in a red cloak is King Idomeneus.
Beside him stands the young Telemachus, depicted as a Roman captain wearing a classical cuirass and a large blue drape, supported in the background by soldiers brandishing spears and banners.
This piece reflects the strong taste for Neoclassicism and moralizing mythological tales that prevailed during the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI.