The Church of Saint-Quentin

The importance of carpet weaving for Tournai is illustrated by this chapel. You can find it just behind the altar.

Pasquier Grenier, the famous carpet weaver, was the man who made Tournai world-renowned with his tapestries. He personally funded the addition of chapels to the church and donated a unique cycle of tapestries.

The tapestries of Pasquier Grenier gained exceptional fame in the 15th century, thanks to various factors.

Grenier's workshop in Tournai was one of the largest and most productive of his time. He delivered monumental series, such as the “History of Alexander the Great,” “The War of Troy,” and the famous Pastrana tapestries, often commissioned by princes like Philip the Good and Henry VII of England. This made his work widespread and highly sought after by the European elite.

The tapestries were executed in the exceptional Tournai style, renowned for their fine finishing, rich colors, and complex, narrative compositions. The use of high-quality wool and silk, combined with vibrant, original designs, gave the tapestries a luxurious appearance that is still admired today.

Grenier was not only a master weaver but also a brilliant entrepreneur. He worked with cartoons (pre-designs), of which he owned the rights. This allowed him to have series woven in different workshops (and even elsewhere), with the same designs produced multiple times and tailored to specific requests. He reformed the international tapestry trade network from Tournai with branches in Bruges and Guise, which was exceptional for that time.

Grenier sometimes had his tapestries designed (“cartooning”) by famous artists such as Jacques Daret. This elevated the artistic quality above mere craftsmanship: iconic and recognizable scenes were masterfully depicted.

Pascal Brackman