Description of the attraction
Jean Lursa is an acclaimed textile artist and reformer of tapestry (or tapestry) art. Jean Lursa was born in 1892 and died in 1966. In Angers, the Museum of Modern Tapestries bears his name, located in the building of St. John's Hospital near the Abbey of Ronsere.
In the 30s of the last century, Jean Lursa learned the secrets of weaving under the supervision of a hereditary weaver in Aubusson - this city supplied tapestries to the royal court. Medieval tapestries from Aubusson have UNESCO World Heritage status. In 1938, the artist began to study the tapestry cycle "Angerskiy Apocalypse" of the XIV century, which is kept in the Anzherskiy castle. So, based on the experience and works of medieval artisans, Jean Lursa revived the art of creating tapestries at the modern level.
The building that houses the Tapestry Museum dates back to the 12th century and is a well-preserved Gothic building. In the 13th century, a chapel was added to it, in the 16th the southern wing of the cloister was added, and in the 17th century a gallery was erected on the side of the main facade. In the 17th century, the hospital housed an orphanage. The hospital building accepted museum exhibits only in 1986 after significant restoration and redevelopment.
The core of the museum collection is made up of tapestries created by Jean Lurs, among which the "Song of Peace" is one of the largest contemporary tapestries. Its length is about 80 meters. The artist began to weave this work in 1957 under the impression of the cycle "Angerskiy Apocalypse" and depicted on it both the most tragic episodes of modern history - for example, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and quite peaceful scenes from the modern life of mankind. This work was completed after the death of the artist.
