Tapestry depicting a woman counting tokens, surrounded by eight men. Front view.

Arithmetic, Cl. 2823 © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Detail of a tapestry depicting three elegantly dressed men. Front photography.

Arithmetic, Cl. 2823 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Tapestry: Arithmetic. Detail of a woman counting tokens on the right, with a book on the left. Front photography.

Arithmetic, Cl. 2823 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Detail of a tapestry depicting a man seen from the back, his face turned to the left towards a window. Front photography.

Arithmetic, Cl. 2823 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Tapestry: Arithmetic. Overall view. Front photography.

Arithmetic, Cl. 2823 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Tapestry: Arithmetic. Detail of a woman with a book on the left, accompanied by three men at her side. Front photography.

Arithmetic, Cl. 2823 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Detail of a tapestry depicting a dog on a tiled floor. Front photograph.

Arithmetic, Cl. 2823 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Arithmetic

Description

On display - room 19a

16th century

Late Middle Ages

Arithmetic, depicted in this tapestry, is one of the seven Liberal Arts and, among them, one of the four mathematical "arts", like Geometry, Astronomy and Music. Here, it is represented by a young woman counting tokens in her right hand and holding a book covered in numbers in her left hand, surrounded by elegantly dressed young people. The scene has an interior setting featuring meticulously detailed architecture and furnishings.

The inscription states that it is a representation of the art of "numbers, which explains the proportions of things".

The tapestry was restored with the support of the BNP Paribas Foundation
 

From one artwork to another

Lead object: headless man mounted on a horse. Front view.

Secular badge, horse rider, Cl. 4600 © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Badges (lead)

14th century - 15th century

Round ceramic plate with Islamic-style decoration in blue and gold with a metallic sheen. Front view on a neutral background.

Hispano-moresque ceramic, basin with eyelets, Cl. 2343 © GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Luc Mabit

Hispano-moresque ceramics

15th century - 16th century