A BRUSSELS TAPESTRY attributed to Jan Frans den Hecke and Pieter van den Hecke, after the designs by Lodewijk van Schoor, late 17th early 18th Century

VARIOUS PROPERTIES A SUITE OF SIX BRUSSELS TAPESTRIES FROM THE SERIES OF THE FOUR SEASONS AND THE ELEMENTS attributed to Jan Frans van den Hecke and Pieter van den Hecke, after the designs by Lodewijk van Schoor, late 17th Century early 18th Century This series of the Four Seasons and the Elements was first woven in Brussels in the ateliers of Jan Frans van den Hecke (fl. 1662-1691) and Pieter van den Hecke (fl. 1703-1752) between 1690-1720, after the cartoons by Lodewijk van Schoor (1666-1726). These cartoons were almost certainly owned by Pieter van den Hecke and are recorded as a chambre, représentant les Quatre de l'année, en quatre pièces, avec les trois planètes (the signs of the zodiac) en chaque pièce et les quatres éléments en deux pièces; ensemble six pièces, à 5 aunes (11ft. 5in.) de hauteur: I. L'Automne. La Balance, le Scorpion, le Sagittaire. 9 1/8 aunes (20ft. 9in.). 2. Le Printemps. Le Bélier, le Taureau, les Gémeaux. 8 1/8 aunes (18ft. 7in. wide). 3. L'Eté. L'Ecrevisse, le Lion, la Vierge. 7 aunes (16ft. wide). 4. l'Hiver. Le Capricorne, l'Aquarius (le Verseau), les Poissons. 6 1/8 aunes (14ft. wide)...' These tapestries could, moreover be altered in width if required (see: E. Standen, European Post Medieval Tapestries and related Hangings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1985, vol. I, no. 34, pp. 220-3). A series of the Seasons, woven by van den Hecke after van Schoor's cartoons, was acquired by King William III of England between 1690-1700 for his friend Everard van Weede van Dijkveld, and this no doubt accounts for the enduring popularity of this series with the English court, for whom the Mortlake manufactory produced several versions

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A BRUSSELS TAPESTRY attributed to Jan Frans den Hecke and Pieter van den Hecke, after the designs by Lodewijk van Schoor, late 17th early 18th Century

Of Autumn from the series of the seasons, woven in wools and silks, centred by an enthroned lady flanked by two maidens holding bunches of grapes and fruits, while to the left Nessus, the centaur carries off Deianira with harvesting people beyond, the right side depicting an interior with peasants making wine, within a border of scrolling foliage and flowers with parrots perched within and within a brown slip, areas of re-weaving and patching, the outer slip later
140½in. x 201¾in. (357cm. x 538cm.)

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A closely related tapestry of Autumn, although in reverse, is in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (see: E. Standen, op.cit., no. 34, pp. 220-3). As Standen remarked, the central figure personifying the Season is flanked by three further maidens emblematic of the months, the figure carrying the Scales emblematic of La Balance or September, and the Centaur emblematic of Le Sagittaire or November. The figure of Le Scorpion or October, however, has shed the Scorpion of the original cartoon for a bunch of grapes, an alternative symbol for October.
Further related tapestries of identical design are recorded in the Museum of Decorative Arts, Zagreb, the collection of Lord Cunliffe of Headley and the collection of Emile Jellinck-Mercedes (see: Standen, op.cit., p. 222)

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