Lot Essay
This tapestry belongs to a group of tapestries generally known as the Naked Boys. The subject is derived from Italian tapestries woven in the 1540s, based on the frescos by Giulio Romano in the Palazzo del Te. The winged children of the frescoes were engraved in Germany in 1529 and it was probably from these engravings, which omitted the wings, that the Brussels weavers drew their inspiration. The theme was much copied and also repeatedly woven at Mortlake and Soho. The original adaptation of the theme, which was much altered and adjusted during the long production, is attributed to Francis Cleyn (d. 1658).
A complete set of this series, including a panel of this subject, is recorded at Cotehele, Cornwall. One panel had the name of John Vanderbank (d. 1717), the most important director of the Great Wardrobe, resewn from a cut-off selvedge and it also appears to have the bead-and-reel border (H.C. Marillier, English Tapestries of the Eighteenth Century, London, 1930, p. 25). A further tapestry, with almost identical subject and with the bead-and-reel borders, was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 1 June 1961, lot 132, and a fragmentary tapestry preserving only the three children to the right, was sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 10 December 1993, lot 22.
A complete set of this series, including a panel of this subject, is recorded at Cotehele, Cornwall. One panel had the name of John Vanderbank (d. 1717), the most important director of the Great Wardrobe, resewn from a cut-off selvedge and it also appears to have the bead-and-reel border (H.C. Marillier, English Tapestries of the Eighteenth Century, London, 1930, p. 25). A further tapestry, with almost identical subject and with the bead-and-reel borders, was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 1 June 1961, lot 132, and a fragmentary tapestry preserving only the three children to the right, was sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 10 December 1993, lot 22.