A FLEMISH MYTHOLOGICAL TAPESTRY

17TH CENTURY

Details

A FLEMISH MYTHOLOGICAL TAPESTRY
17th Century
Depicting Anthony in Roman armor greeting Cleopatra accompanied by two maidens and with Enobarbus seated behind them, to the left one man is playing the harp, one is pouring from an urn, while the third carries fruit on a platter, within an interior, set against a landscape with trees, all within a border to the top and sides woven with flower garlands and a bird to each of the top corners, lacking lower border, strip added to the right of the main field, the guard borders later
104in. (264cm.) high, 192in. (488cm.) wide

Lot Essay

This subject depicts Anthony seated at a table with Cleopatra and Enobarus. He expresses surprise about the magnificence of her banquet. In response to his reaction, the Queen takes a priceless pearl and dissolves it in a glass of wine which she drinks, demonstrating her indifference to riches.

A tapestry of this subject, although with differing background and treatment of the faces, was sold by the Pelgrims de Bigard family from the Château de Grand Bigard, Brussels, Belgium, Christie's house sale, 15-16 June 1981, lot 124.

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