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TWO MORTLAKE TAPESTRIES FROM THE DIOGENES SERIES The following two tapestries depict scenes from The Life of Diogenes, a tapestry subject that was probably exclusively English and that was designed at Mortlake in the late 1660's or early 1670's. The series consisted of seven subjects based on etchings by Salvator Rosa and depicts the story of Diogenes, an extremely austere cynic philosopher of the 4th Century BC, who lived in Athens and Corinth. He is the best known of the Cynics, a group of Greek philosophers that stressed stoic self-sufficiency and the rejection of luxury. He despised worldly possessions to such a degree that he lived in a barrel for a time. The tapestry subjects of this series include Alexander visiting Diogenes (see lot 241), Philosophers departing from Diogenes, Diogenes writing on the Lintel of a Door, Diogenes seated contemplating the ruins of Carthage (Diogenes meditates on the end of all Things), The school of Socrates (see lot 242) and The School of Plato. The seventh subject, depicting Diogenes washing Herbs in a Stream, is visited by Plato, does not appear to be based on a Rosa etching but rather a design by Raphael for Phylatus. The series was repeatedly woven at Mortlake until its closure in 1703 and later copied at Soho. The borders of these two tapestries are what H. C. Marillier termed 'Sandstone Borders' because the side borders resemble hollowed-out pillars (English Tapestries of the Eighteenth Century, London, 1930, p. 39). He also concluded that tapestries with these borders are likely to form part of the Soho weavings since they also appear on other series that are believed to be of 18th Century origin, such as the Months and Seasons and Mythologies. RELATED TAPESTRIES A Mortlake version of Diogenes writing on the lintel of his house was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 26 November 1996, lot 226, while a slightly later Soho version of the same subject was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 16 May 1996, lot 214. A Mortlake version of Diogenes washing Herbs was sold anonymously in these rooms, 30 September 1999, lot 159. A set of five panels of this series is at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and was originally purchased by Charles II in late 1682 or early 1683 (M. Swain, Tapestries and Textiles at the Palce of Holyroodhouse, London, 1988, pp. 12-15, figs. 2a- 2e). Further sets with the 'Sandstone Border' were recorded at Easton Neston and Dyrham Park, while a set of five from the property of Major W. G. Lambarde, Bradbourne Hall, Sevenoaks, Kent, was sold in these rooms, December 1926. THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN (LOTS 241-242)

A SOHO MYTHOLOGICAL TAPESTRY

EARLY 18TH CENTURY, AFTER AN ETCHING BY SALVATOR ROSA

Details

A SOHO MYTHOLOGICAL TAPESTRY
Early 18th Century, after an etching by Salvator Rosa
Woven in wools and silks, depicting Alexander visiting Diogenes sitting outside his barrel, from the series of The story of Diogenes, surrounded by Alexander's soldiers they stand in a mountainous river landscape with a fortress to the left and a fortefied city in the background, within a 'sandstone' floral border hung with floral swags headed by a cartouche with the inscription 'SENSIT ALEXANDER TESTA QVVM VIDIT INILLA MAGNUM HABITATOREM QUANTO FELICIOR HIC QVINIL CVP[F?]ERET QUAM QVITOTVM S[....]POSCERET ORBEM.', lacking outer slip, reduced in width to each side and height to the bottom, extensive reweaving to ivory silks
8ft. 10 in. (268 cm.) high; 11 ft. 10 in. (360 cm.) wide

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Lot Essay

This scene depicts Diogenes sitting in his barrel when Alexander the Great, who admired Diogenes, visited him. When Alexander said: Ask of me what thou wilt and thou shalt have it, Diogenes replied: Stand out of my Light.

The inscription to the top cartouche translates to: Alexander realised that he was the great man who lived in the barrel and how much happier is he who desires nothing than he who demands the whole world for himself.

This scene is a copy in reverse of a painting by Salvator Rosa, in the collection of the Earls Spencer, Althorp House, Northamptonshire. The engraving of the painting is even more closely related to the tapestry and almost certainly served as the basis for the cartoons.

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