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Lot Essay
BOSSI
The origins of this family are rooted deep into mythology. It is said that they sprang from the union of Europa, the daughter of King Agenor of Tyre, and Jupiter, who seduced her as a white bull (hence the coat-of-arms). The first mention of the family is in the 10th century in Lombardy, in Azzate near Varese. The family then appears to have moved their seat to Milan, where members held high positions in the government.
There are three possible patrons for this tapestry:
Egidio Bossi, born in Milan in 1488, studied law in Pavia and became procurator to Massimo Sforza in 1513. Subsequently Sforza made him podestà not only of Alessandria, but also Bergamo and Novara. Francois II and Charles V nominated him senator of Milan, a post which he held for 17 years. He was considered one of the best jurists of his time and wrote several books on the subject before dying in 1546.
His son Marcantonio Bossi, inherited the title of signore della Val Bosse after his father's death. 1559 he became ambassador to the Swiss cantons for Milan for seven years. In February 1563 he was made knight of Emperor Ferdinand and was transferred to Innsbruck where he held the post of council to the King of Spain. A few years later Massimiliano II nominated him count Palatine. Returning to Milan, he held high official posts until his death in 1582.
His other son Francesco Bossi entered the 'collegio dei giureconsulti', as had his father and brother, in 1558. He became prefect of Milan in 1560 and was transferred to Rome where he served under Pius IV and V and was created Bishop of Gravina di Puglia in 1564. Pope Gregory XIII nominated him Bishop of Perugia in 1574 and then of Novara in 1579. He established the Seminar of the Isola di San Giulio in the lake of Orta and died in 1584.
COMPARABLE EXAMPLES
Stylistically this tapestry bears close resemblance to an armorial tapestry woven for the Genoese Grimaldi family, which is today in the Koninklijke Musea voor Kunst en Geschiedenis in Brussels (M. Crick-Kuntziger, Catalogus van de Wandtapijten, Brussels, 1956, cat. 34, pl. 43). The tapestries both employ identically-shaped arms hung from similar helmets and flanked by two symbolic figures. The borders with very similar structure and elements, at times in reverse, are also highlighted to the corners by further arms. The Grimaldi tapestry bears the town mark for Brussels and an as yet unidentified weaver's mark. It is almost certain that this tapestry was also woven by the same artist, as it is not only stylistically similar but also in quality of weave. It is further interesting to note that the Grimaldi tapestry formed part of a series of similar tapestries, two of which are recorded (in 1925 and 1883), which may suggest that this particular tapestry also belonged into a larger group. However, no further tapestries of the Bossi series have to date been identified.
The origins of this family are rooted deep into mythology. It is said that they sprang from the union of Europa, the daughter of King Agenor of Tyre, and Jupiter, who seduced her as a white bull (hence the coat-of-arms). The first mention of the family is in the 10th century in Lombardy, in Azzate near Varese. The family then appears to have moved their seat to Milan, where members held high positions in the government.
There are three possible patrons for this tapestry:
Egidio Bossi, born in Milan in 1488, studied law in Pavia and became procurator to Massimo Sforza in 1513. Subsequently Sforza made him podestà not only of Alessandria, but also Bergamo and Novara. Francois II and Charles V nominated him senator of Milan, a post which he held for 17 years. He was considered one of the best jurists of his time and wrote several books on the subject before dying in 1546.
His son Marcantonio Bossi, inherited the title of signore della Val Bosse after his father's death. 1559 he became ambassador to the Swiss cantons for Milan for seven years. In February 1563 he was made knight of Emperor Ferdinand and was transferred to Innsbruck where he held the post of council to the King of Spain. A few years later Massimiliano II nominated him count Palatine. Returning to Milan, he held high official posts until his death in 1582.
His other son Francesco Bossi entered the 'collegio dei giureconsulti', as had his father and brother, in 1558. He became prefect of Milan in 1560 and was transferred to Rome where he served under Pius IV and V and was created Bishop of Gravina di Puglia in 1564. Pope Gregory XIII nominated him Bishop of Perugia in 1574 and then of Novara in 1579. He established the Seminar of the Isola di San Giulio in the lake of Orta and died in 1584.
COMPARABLE EXAMPLES
Stylistically this tapestry bears close resemblance to an armorial tapestry woven for the Genoese Grimaldi family, which is today in the Koninklijke Musea voor Kunst en Geschiedenis in Brussels (M. Crick-Kuntziger, Catalogus van de Wandtapijten, Brussels, 1956, cat. 34, pl. 43). The tapestries both employ identically-shaped arms hung from similar helmets and flanked by two symbolic figures. The borders with very similar structure and elements, at times in reverse, are also highlighted to the corners by further arms. The Grimaldi tapestry bears the town mark for Brussels and an as yet unidentified weaver's mark. It is almost certain that this tapestry was also woven by the same artist, as it is not only stylistically similar but also in quality of weave. It is further interesting to note that the Grimaldi tapestry formed part of a series of similar tapestries, two of which are recorded (in 1925 and 1883), which may suggest that this particular tapestry also belonged into a larger group. However, no further tapestries of the Bossi series have to date been identified.