How did the Gobelin tapestry works change under Jean-Baptiste Colbert?

Under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the Gobelins underwent a significant transformation from a small, private tapestry workshop into a massive state-run enterprise.12

In 1662, the French crown purchased the Gobelins works, and in 1667, it was officially established as the Manufacture Royale des Meubles de la Couronne (Royal Factory of Furnishings to the Crown). Colbert, serving as finance minister to Louis XIV, reorganized the facility to serve as a "universal factory" that supplied all royal residences, particularly the château of Versailles.312

Key changes under Colbert included:
* Consolidation of Talent: Colbert recruited skilled artisans from various existing workshops, including the de La Planche and Comans shops and the Louvre enterprise, to centralize production.1
* Expanded Scope: The factory moved beyond just tapestry to include all of the king’s artisan corps, such as cabinetmakers, goldsmiths, and silversmiths.1
* New Infrastructure: He established a new works equipped with both high- and low-warp looms.1
* Artistic Direction: Colbert appointed the painter Charles Le Brun as the first director, tasking him with creating works that celebrated the glory of the king.12