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Lot Essay
This tapestry belongs to a series that can firmly be attributed to Bruges on the basis of the borders of tapestries from the same series and the town mark on an example in the Musées Communaux, Bruges (G. Delmarcel, E. Duverger, Bruges et la Tapisserie, exhibition catalogue, Bruges, 1987, cats. 13-17, pp. 228-243). The somewhat naïve drawing of the designs suggests that the cartoons were drawn by a local artist, possibly from as yet unidentified engravings. One set is recorded in the inventory of 1673 of Louis XIV's art collection as une tenture de tapisserie de laine et soye, fabrique de Bruges, représentant l'histoire de Jules César. A set of five tapestries from this series previously in the collection of Dr. R.H. Sayre, New York, sold American Art Association, New York, 31 March - 2 April 1932, lots 680-684, and subsequently with French & Co., survived until recently with very rich borders with angels to the upper corners. It is believed that there are at least six different weavings of the series of approximately nine subjects, many with differing borders.
A tapestry of the same subject as the offered lot but showing the horses drawing the chariot is in the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond. Four tapestries from this series were sold Christie's, London, 19 May 1994, lots 352 - 355.
(G. Delmarcel, E. Duverger, Bruges et la Tapisserie, exhibition catalogue, Bruges, 1987, cats. 13 - 17, pp. 228 - 243).
A tapestry of the same subject as the offered lot but showing the horses drawing the chariot is in the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond. Four tapestries from this series were sold Christie's, London, 19 May 1994, lots 352 - 355.
(G. Delmarcel, E. Duverger, Bruges et la Tapisserie, exhibition catalogue, Bruges, 1987, cats. 13 - 17, pp. 228 - 243).