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Lot Essay
The central medallion depicts Samson struggling with the lion. Samson, one of the Old testament Judges, slays the lion with bare hands, demonstrating superhuman strength. This combat was interpreted by the medieval Church as the struggle of Christ against the devil.
A tapestry panel of the same subject, closely related borders and the main subject depicted in reverse, is in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow (C. Adelson, European Tapestry in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, 1994, p. 370, fig. 156), while a very similar tapestry was sold anonymously in these Rooms 8 July 1976, lot 112. the borders relate more closely to two tapestries depicting Faith, Charity and Hope in The Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Adelson, op. cit., pp. 373 and 375).
A tapestry panel of the same subject, closely related borders and the main subject depicted in reverse, is in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow (C. Adelson, European Tapestry in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, 1994, p. 370, fig. 156), while a very similar tapestry was sold anonymously in these Rooms 8 July 1976, lot 112. the borders relate more closely to two tapestries depicting Faith, Charity and Hope in The Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Adelson, op. cit., pp. 373 and 375).