.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
History of the Series
The Art of War series was initially woven for three rulers, all following Louis XIV's example of using tapestry sets to confirm both status and power. Thus, while the Elector Max Emmanuel of Bavaria (d. 1726) and the Margrave Louis of Baden (d. 1707) both commissioned a series to commemorate their victory over the Turks at the Siege of Vienna in 1683, William III of England (d. 1702) ordered a set so as not to be outdone by his great rival Louis XIV.
The Elector of Bavaria tapestries were the first to be completed. Comprising a set of eight they were recorded in the 1696 accounts:
Achat par l'electeur Maximilien Emmanuel, le 1 avril 1696, d'une suite de tapisseries de Bruxelles tissies par G. van der Borght et J. le Clercq.
Weavers and Designer
The series cost the huge amount of 3,787½ escus and was woven by Jeroen Le Clerc (d. 1722) and Jasper van der Borght (d. 1742), who are known to have collaborated on several large series. These two weavers are believed to have woven all the sets of the first series of cartoons, which were designed by Lambert de Hondt, who was active in Brussels in the 1690s. It is interesting to note that none of the panels actually record specific victories, but rather depict general scenes of campaigns, and only one panel for the set, La Marche, actually glorifies the Commander-in-Chief.
Marlborough and his Generals
After the wars of the Spanish Succession between 1700 and 1714, the Duke of Marlborough (d. 1722) commissioned two sets for himself and six further sets were completed for his generals: Lord Cadogan, the Duke of Argyll, Lord Orkney, General Lumley, Lord Cobham and General Webb. The first set for the Duke of Marlborough was possibly a gift by the town of Brussels to the Duke upon their liberation in 1706. It is woven with gold to the arms at the top and the borders were re-designed by Jan van Orley. Of the subsequent sets made for the Generals, only three remain traceable, those of Lord Orkney, Lord Cobham (both with coats-of-arms) and General Lumley (lacking coats-of-arms).
Subsequent sets and Weaver
The second version of this tapestry series as well as the subsequent weavings were almost certainly all executed in the workshop of Jodocus de Vos (d. after 1725). The second set of the Art of War series executed for the Duke of Marlborough, which belongs to the second version and which was woven by de Vos, was probably completed in 1717. That set was to commemorate actual victories of the Duke. Thirteen further generals or princes who had participated on either side of these wars subsequently commissioned de Vos to weave sets for them.
The workshop of de Vos was founded by his father Marc in the mid-17th Century and flourished rapidly. At its height the workshop was the largest tapestry atelier of Brussels and was by then under the directorship of Jodocus, who received his privileges in 1705.
(A Wace, The Marlborough Tapestries at Blenheim Palace, London, 1968)
This panel must have been woven either as one of thirteen sets of the second version in circa 1724, or possibly formed part of one of the three lost sets woven for Marlborough's Generals in 1706.
Comparable Examples
Two panels from the first series depicting Attacque and Vivandier from the property of Baron Coppèe were sold in these Rooms, 26 November 1996, lots 228 and 229, while another two from the second, depicting Campement and La Marche and bearing the arms of Johann Wenzel Graf Wratislaw (d. 1712), were sold anonymously in these Rooms, 1 Ocotober 1998, lots 221 and 222. A further panel depicting Pillage from the Lumley set was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 30 September 1999, lot 179.
The Art of War series was initially woven for three rulers, all following Louis XIV's example of using tapestry sets to confirm both status and power. Thus, while the Elector Max Emmanuel of Bavaria (d. 1726) and the Margrave Louis of Baden (d. 1707) both commissioned a series to commemorate their victory over the Turks at the Siege of Vienna in 1683, William III of England (d. 1702) ordered a set so as not to be outdone by his great rival Louis XIV.
The Elector of Bavaria tapestries were the first to be completed. Comprising a set of eight they were recorded in the 1696 accounts:
Achat par l'electeur Maximilien Emmanuel, le 1 avril 1696, d'une suite de tapisseries de Bruxelles tissies par G. van der Borght et J. le Clercq.
Weavers and Designer
The series cost the huge amount of 3,787½ escus and was woven by Jeroen Le Clerc (d. 1722) and Jasper van der Borght (d. 1742), who are known to have collaborated on several large series. These two weavers are believed to have woven all the sets of the first series of cartoons, which were designed by Lambert de Hondt, who was active in Brussels in the 1690s. It is interesting to note that none of the panels actually record specific victories, but rather depict general scenes of campaigns, and only one panel for the set, La Marche, actually glorifies the Commander-in-Chief.
Marlborough and his Generals
After the wars of the Spanish Succession between 1700 and 1714, the Duke of Marlborough (d. 1722) commissioned two sets for himself and six further sets were completed for his generals: Lord Cadogan, the Duke of Argyll, Lord Orkney, General Lumley, Lord Cobham and General Webb. The first set for the Duke of Marlborough was possibly a gift by the town of Brussels to the Duke upon their liberation in 1706. It is woven with gold to the arms at the top and the borders were re-designed by Jan van Orley. Of the subsequent sets made for the Generals, only three remain traceable, those of Lord Orkney, Lord Cobham (both with coats-of-arms) and General Lumley (lacking coats-of-arms).
Subsequent sets and Weaver
The second version of this tapestry series as well as the subsequent weavings were almost certainly all executed in the workshop of Jodocus de Vos (d. after 1725). The second set of the Art of War series executed for the Duke of Marlborough, which belongs to the second version and which was woven by de Vos, was probably completed in 1717. That set was to commemorate actual victories of the Duke. Thirteen further generals or princes who had participated on either side of these wars subsequently commissioned de Vos to weave sets for them.
The workshop of de Vos was founded by his father Marc in the mid-17th Century and flourished rapidly. At its height the workshop was the largest tapestry atelier of Brussels and was by then under the directorship of Jodocus, who received his privileges in 1705.
(A Wace, The Marlborough Tapestries at Blenheim Palace, London, 1968)
This panel must have been woven either as one of thirteen sets of the second version in circa 1724, or possibly formed part of one of the three lost sets woven for Marlborough's Generals in 1706.
Comparable Examples
Two panels from the first series depicting Attacque and Vivandier from the property of Baron Coppèe were sold in these Rooms, 26 November 1996, lots 228 and 229, while another two from the second, depicting Campement and La Marche and bearing the arms of Johann Wenzel Graf Wratislaw (d. 1712), were sold anonymously in these Rooms, 1 Ocotober 1998, lots 221 and 222. A further panel depicting Pillage from the Lumley set was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 30 September 1999, lot 179.