Trésors de laine et de soie : les tapisseries de Guillaume Werniers & Catherine Ghuys à Lille au XVIIIe siècle

Exhibition at the Musée de l’Hospice Comtesse, Lille, 29 April – 11 October 2026

The pride of Lille, the Werniers-Ghuys textile mill was regarded in the 18th century as one of the most prestigious centres of textile production in northern Europe. It supplied the European aristocracy and civil and religious institutions with luxury tapestries, depicting subjects as diverse as religious or historical scenes, or bucolic scenes known as ‘tenières’, inspired by the works of the Flemish painter David Teniers II.

Tracing the epic story of these ‘treasures of wool and silk’ through the history of an exceptional workshop, this exhibition catalogue—the first reference publication devoted to the workshop—sheds light on the lives of its founder, Guillaume Werniers, and his wife, Catherine Ghuys, who, after becoming a widow, ran the business alone for forty years.
Richly illustrated with images that showcase the materials and technical details, it brings together the perspectives of curators, academics and conservators to offer a comprehensive overview of this outstanding craftsmanship and reveals an exceptional collection of monumental tapestries, restored between 2023 and 2026.