Lot Essay
This tapestry possibly belongs to a series of The Story of Scipio, whose victories in Spain and north Africa against the Carthaginians brought the second Punic Wars to an end.
It is, however, more probable that the subject forms part of the series Les Hommes Illustres d'apres Plutarque, a series of eleven subjects woven at least three times between 1713 and 1734 by Hendrick II Reydams, Urban and Daniel Leyniers. The designs for the series were created by Victor-Honoré Janssens (d. 1736).
Hendrick II Reydams (d. 1719), son of Hendrick I, took over his father's workshop upon the latter's death in 1669. He adopted the new fashion for smaller figure groups in larger landscapes for his tapestries. In 1712 he signed a contract for a cooperation with Urban (d. 1747) and Daniel (d. 1728) Leyniers. Urban led the firm which included a dyeing house. The first series they wove was Les Hommes Illustres d'apres Plutarque.
Four panels from this series with plain trellis borders were sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 18 July 1980, lots 106-109.
It is, however, more probable that the subject forms part of the series Les Hommes Illustres d'apres Plutarque, a series of eleven subjects woven at least three times between 1713 and 1734 by Hendrick II Reydams, Urban and Daniel Leyniers. The designs for the series were created by Victor-Honoré Janssens (d. 1736).
Hendrick II Reydams (d. 1719), son of Hendrick I, took over his father's workshop upon the latter's death in 1669. He adopted the new fashion for smaller figure groups in larger landscapes for his tapestries. In 1712 he signed a contract for a cooperation with Urban (d. 1747) and Daniel (d. 1728) Leyniers. Urban led the firm which included a dyeing house. The first series they wove was Les Hommes Illustres d'apres Plutarque.
Four panels from this series with plain trellis borders were sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 18 July 1980, lots 106-109.