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Lot Essay
This tapestry forms part of a series entitled The Nine Heroes, which traditionally depicted three heroes of the Old Testament (David, Joshua and Judas Maccabeus), three heroes of Antiquity (Hector, Alexander and Julius Ceasar) and three medieval heroes (Arthur, Charlemagne and Godefroy de Bouillon). The main figures are taken from engravings by Antonio Tempesta (d. 1630), while the surrounding figures were inspired by paintings by Peter Paul Rubens (d. 1640) (D. Heinz, Europische Tapisseriekunst des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts, Vienna, 1995, pp. 19 and 49). The Florentine Tempesta, best pupil of Jan van der Straeten (Stradanus), specialised in hunting scenes, battles and processions. He produced more than 1800 engravings and worked for pope Gregory XIII in the Vatican and decorated the palazzo of Marquese Giustiniani.
The only thus recorded executions of this series are by Jakob II Geubels (d. 1635) and Jan I Raes. Three tapestries from this series depicting Charlemagne, Godefroy de Bouillon and Julius Ceasar, and the latter two executed by Jakob Geubels, are illustrated in H. Gbel, Tapestries of the Lowlands, New York, 1924, figs. 82, 83 and 84, respectively. while a further set of three tapestries from this series, executed by Jakob Geubels and Jan Raes I, depicting Hector, Godefroy de Bouillon and possibly Alexander, were sold anonymously in these Rooms, 10 December 1992, lots 408-410.
The only thus recorded executions of this series are by Jakob II Geubels (d. 1635) and Jan I Raes. Three tapestries from this series depicting Charlemagne, Godefroy de Bouillon and Julius Ceasar, and the latter two executed by Jakob Geubels, are illustrated in H. Gbel, Tapestries of the Lowlands, New York, 1924, figs. 82, 83 and 84, respectively. while a further set of three tapestries from this series, executed by Jakob Geubels and Jan Raes I, depicting Hector, Godefroy de Bouillon and possibly Alexander, were sold anonymously in these Rooms, 10 December 1992, lots 408-410.