Wandtapijt met voorstellingen van de heerschappij van Hendrik II van Frankrijk, opgesteld tijdens de Exposition Rétrospective van 1873 in Tours, Frankrijk 1873

This print by Gabriel Blaise depicts a tapestry showing scenes from the reign of Henry II of France, and was displayed at the 1873 Retrospective Exhibition in Tours. The tapestry itself, likely made during Henry's reign in the mid-16th century, served as a powerful visual statement of royal authority. In 1873, France was in a period of political turmoil following the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune. Exhibiting this tapestry at the Retrospective Exhibition in Tours would have invoked a sense of national pride and historical continuity, reminding viewers of a time when France was a dominant power in Europe. The choice of Tours is also significant, as the city has historically been a refuge for the French government in times of crisis. Understanding this print requires us to consider the cultural and political context both of the original tapestry and of the moment when it was put on display again in 1873. The archives of the Tours exhibition might offer more insight into the thinking behind this restaging of royal power.