296 ON THE MANUFACTURE OF GOBELINS TAPESTRY 
the greatest surface does not exceed nine square millimetres, he arrives, 
according to the nature of the pattern, at very remarkable results ; this 
cannot be better compared than to mosaic. What is possible to the 
artist in mosaic, with regard to the design, the pattern, and the colour- 
ing, is equally so to the artist in tapestry, with this difference to the 
advantage of the latter, that the threads of wool, of which the surface of 
the velvet is composed, are not singly perceptible to the eye, like each 
of the cubes of marble or of enamel of which Mosaic is composed. 
The dyed wools and the silks belonging to the two Gobelins fabrics, 
are stored in proximity with each other : — 1st. In a general warehouse, 
where they are arranged in skeins ; 2nd. In a retail shop where they 
are on broches, ready for use ; further, to each loom is appropriated a 
press, containing wools assorted by the artizan for his work, and those 
he has already used, that may again be of use in the execution of the 
tapestry in the loom. 
The workers independently of the weaving of the tapestries and 
carpets, mount the warp, chalk the pattern, and assort the wools of the 
colour they require. 
The heads of the workshop constantly superintend the work, (a) the 
sub-chiefs replace them when they are obliged to be absent, (b) all are 
chosen from amongst the oldest and most skilful artists in tapestry. An 
historical painter, bearing the title of Inspector of Works of Arts, visits 
the workshops at least once a week, (c) 
The tapestries actually occupy forty artists in tapestry, comprising 
in that number two chiefs, two sub-chiefs, and four pupils. The car- 
pets occupy thirty-seven, comprising one chief, two sub-chiefs, and four 
pupils. The highest of the payments does not exceed 2,000 francs. 
Emulation is preserved much more by the rewards accorded to perfec- 
tion, than by the quantity of tapestry or of carpets produced. The 
latter may be estimated, in both fabrics, on an average, at from thirty- 
four square centimetres (d) each person. 
The service of the storehouses for the two workshops employ eight 
persons, generally chosen from amongst the old artist workers. The 
manufactory contains, besides a workshop for dyeing, a laboratory for 
chemistry, schools of design and tapestry, a workshop for fine-drawing, 
(a) M. Limosin, dit Laforest, chief of the workshop, directs that of tapestry 
since 1828 ; M. Gilbert, artist in tapestry, has been associated with him since 
March 1, 1858, under the title of Chief of the 2nd class workshop. M. Legrand, 
chief of carpets, filled this office from 1853, after having exercised that of snb- 
chief for twenty-one years. 
(b) In the tapestry workshops, the sub-chiefs are MM. Duruy and Buffit ; in 
the carpet workshop, MM. Frangois and Bordot exercise the same functions. 
(c) M. Muller (Charles Louis), ha s been Inspector of the Works of Arts in the 
manufacture of Gobelins, since 1st June, 1851. 
; {d) Or thirty squares of one centimetre the side. 
