EARLY 16TH CENTURY

Details

A FRANCO-FLEMISH BIBLICAL TAPESTRY
EARLY 16TH CENTURY
Woven in wools and silks, from 'The Story of Susanna', depicting Daniel seated on a lambrequined throne and before him two elders wearing turbans with their hands tied, with soldiers and courtiers flanking the scene, set within an architectural interior with a vista into an open landscape through the windows and doors, the tiled floor inscribed with 'R' and 'II', and the sleeve of the cloak worn by the soldier in the foreground inscribed 'RN I LIAFI', within a later blue outer slip, reduced in size, reweaving and patching
8 ft. 11 in. x 6 ft. 7½ in. (272 cm. x 202 cm.)

Provenance

Sotheby's, London, 19 November 1971, lot 36 [Then still joined with a scene depicting Susanna being taken to court and both scenes with inscribed tablets].
Christie's, London, 1 October 1998, lot 251, where purchased by the current owner.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

This tapestry depicts the last scene from the series illustrating 'The Story of Susanna'. Susanna, who bathed daily in her garden, was desired by two elders of the community. One day the two sprang out on the unsuspecting Susanna, demanding that she give herself to them or they would swear before court that she was seen by them in the act of adultery with a young man. Defying the threat Susanna cried out for help while the men carried out their threat. Condemned to death before the court Susanna was saved at the last moment by Daniel who cross-examined the two men and elicited conflicting evidence thus proving her innocence. This scene shows the elders being taken away.

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