Lot Essay
This and the following lot are inscribed to the top as illustrating scenes from the Story of the Loves of Astrée and Celadon, but the depictions do not appear in the poem by Honorée d'Urfé that is meant to have inspired this series. They have been identified by Marquerite Calberg and Koen Brosens as actually belonging to a now rare set of tapestries depicting the popular story of Le Pastor Fido (The Faithful Shepherd), a pastoral tragicomedy by Giovanni Battista Guarini (1538 - 1612) that was first published in 1590. The story is set in Arcadia where the inhabitants have to sacrifice a virgin to Diana annually. The beautiful Arcadian Lucrine cheated the priest Aminto into this burden, from which, according to the oracle, they cannot be freed until two children descending from celestial parents get married. Montano, a descendant of Hercules and an Arcadian priest, thus decides to marry his son Silvio to Amarillis the daughter of Titire, a descendant of Pan. Amarillis, however, is in love with Mirtillo, the faithful shepherd, who is suddenly revealed a son of Montano and can thus marry his love, which frees Arcadia from the burden.
Interestingly there are further panels of this series at the Santiago Cathedral also inscribed with the erroneous title. It appears that the weaver and patron did not mind renaming an existing series of designs to fit their particular needs.
Christie's would like to thank Guy Delmarcel for his kind help in researching this lot.
Interestingly there are further panels of this series at the Santiago Cathedral also inscribed with the erroneous title. It appears that the weaver and patron did not mind renaming an existing series of designs to fit their particular needs.
Christie's would like to thank Guy Delmarcel for his kind help in researching this lot.