Details
A BRUSSELS BAROQUE BIBLICAL TAPESTRY
LATE 16TH/EARLY 17TH CENTURY
Worked in colors and depicting Gideon selecting his army to fight the battle against the Midianites, before a fortress of tents within a forest and the well of Harod in the foreground, with an upper border centrally fitted with a cartouche woven with the inscription 'Trecentos Viros Qui Manv Ad Os Proiiciente Aquas Lambvervnt Ibvente Deo Elegit' flanked by putti and scrolling blossoming foliage, within later guard borders (reduced in height and width, areas of reweaving) - 135in. (343cm.) x 241in. (612cm.)
The depicted scene is taken from the Old Testament, Book of Judges, Chapter 7, in which Gideon is summoned by an angel of the Lord to lead Israel in battle against the Midianites. The Latin inscription in the central cartouche translates as, "At God's command, he chose three hundred men who lapped the water by cupping it hand to mouth" referring to the Lord's command to Gideon to reduce the number of his army before going to battle by testing them at the well of Harod. Only those men who tasted the water by putting their hand to their mouth were selected; those who lapped with their tongue like a dog or knelt by the water were not.
Christie's is grateful to W. Mark Brady for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.
LATE 16TH/EARLY 17TH CENTURY
Worked in colors and depicting Gideon selecting his army to fight the battle against the Midianites, before a fortress of tents within a forest and the well of Harod in the foreground, with an upper border centrally fitted with a cartouche woven with the inscription 'Trecentos Viros Qui Manv Ad Os Proiiciente Aquas Lambvervnt Ibvente Deo Elegit' flanked by putti and scrolling blossoming foliage, within later guard borders (reduced in height and width, areas of reweaving) - 135in. (343cm.) x 241in. (612cm.)
The depicted scene is taken from the Old Testament, Book of Judges, Chapter 7, in which Gideon is summoned by an angel of the Lord to lead Israel in battle against the Midianites. The Latin inscription in the central cartouche translates as, "At God's command, he chose three hundred men who lapped the water by cupping it hand to mouth" referring to the Lord's command to Gideon to reduce the number of his army before going to battle by testing them at the well of Harod. Only those men who tasted the water by putting their hand to their mouth were selected; those who lapped with their tongue like a dog or knelt by the water were not.
Christie's is grateful to W. Mark Brady for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.