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Lot Essay
Weaver
The weaver's mark on this tapestry had until recently remained unidentified. Documents have now, however, revealed that it is the mark of Nicasius Aerts who forms part of a family of weavers that is mentioned in archival records between 1550 and 1707. Nicasius (d. 1627), who obtained a privilege in 1613, was further mentioned in 1619 when he married the widow of the weaver Bernard van Brustom. His signature appears on sets of The Nine Heroes, Scipio (Boston), Jacob (Philadelphia), Troy (Soprintendenza, Turin) and Ulysses (Stockholm) (G. Delmarcel, Flemish Tapestry, Tielt, 1999, p. 363).
Subject
The incident depicted may be that of Jupiter abducting Aegina, daughter of the river god Aesopus. Jupiter had taken the shape of an eagle and brought her to the island originally called Oenone, but now called Aegina. Aesopus came to Corinth looking for his daughter and was told by Sisyphus that it was Jupiter who had ravished her. Aesopus pursued her, but was repelled when thunderbolts were hurled at him. Sisyphus as punishment was banished to the Underworld by Zeus for having disclosed the secret. Aegina gave birth to Aeacus who became King of the island Aegina.
The weaver's mark on this tapestry had until recently remained unidentified. Documents have now, however, revealed that it is the mark of Nicasius Aerts who forms part of a family of weavers that is mentioned in archival records between 1550 and 1707. Nicasius (d. 1627), who obtained a privilege in 1613, was further mentioned in 1619 when he married the widow of the weaver Bernard van Brustom. His signature appears on sets of The Nine Heroes, Scipio (Boston), Jacob (Philadelphia), Troy (Soprintendenza, Turin) and Ulysses (Stockholm) (G. Delmarcel, Flemish Tapestry, Tielt, 1999, p. 363).
Subject
The incident depicted may be that of Jupiter abducting Aegina, daughter of the river god Aesopus. Jupiter had taken the shape of an eagle and brought her to the island originally called Oenone, but now called Aegina. Aesopus came to Corinth looking for his daughter and was told by Sisyphus that it was Jupiter who had ravished her. Aesopus pursued her, but was repelled when thunderbolts were hurled at him. Sisyphus as punishment was banished to the Underworld by Zeus for having disclosed the secret. Aegina gave birth to Aeacus who became King of the island Aegina.