This lot has no reserve. Tax exempt.

These lots may be exempt from sales tax, as set forth in the Sales Tax notice at the back of this catalogue.

A BRUSSELS MYTHOLOGICAL TAPESTRY

FIRST HALF 18TH CENTURY, POSSIBLY BEAUVAIS

Details

A BRUSSELS MYTHOLOGICAL TAPESTRY
First Half 18th Century, possibly Beauvais
Depicting the birth of Bacchus, with Mercury handing over the infant to a woman, with maidens pouring water into a basin and an infant playing with a goat in the foreground, with cows, with a waterfall and tree lined landscape to the background, lacking borders, with later blue guard borders
113in. (287cm.) high, 149in. (378cm.) wide

Special notice

This lot has no reserve. Tax exempt.

Lot Essay

According to mythology, Bacchus was sewn into the thigh of Jupiter by Mercury after Semele, his mother, was killed during her pregnancy by a thunderbolt thrown by Jupiter. When Bacchus was born, Mercury brought the infant to the nymphs who lived in a grotto on Mount Nysa to take care of him.

A tapestry of identical design, but in reverse and lacking the right section of the panel, was sold from the collection of Louis Dubreuil at Drouot, Paris, 12 May 1905, lot 121, and again from the collection of Paul Dutasta, at Drouot, Paris, 3 April 1926, lot 121.

More from Continental Furniture, Works of Art, Tapestries & Carpets

View All