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Lot Essay
The Schwabach tapestry manufactory owes its origin in the edict of Nantes of 1685. Over 200 Protestant weavers left Aubusson, including Michel de Claravaux and Jean Peux, who emigrated to Schwabach. They were welcomed by Margrave Johann Friedrich von Ansbach and helped in the establishment of their workshop which survived until the early 1740s.
Initially the weavers copied existing tapestry designs as there were no painters who could supply new series. Jean Bérain's engravings formed the central inspiration until the 1730s, while this tapestry with its three companion pieces was inspired by anonymous engravings published by Christian Weigel in Nuremberg. Both Spring and Summer from this series survive in the Stadtmuseum Schwabach while Fall was recorded in Berlin prior to 1933.
A tapestry of the Elements series, which preceded the Seasons series was sold anonymously, Sotheby's, New York, 12 January 1993, lot 273, while another with Watteau-type figures set within grotesques and woven after 1734 was offered anonymously, Christie's, New York, 2 June 1993, lot 83.
(D. Heinz, Europäische Tapisseriekunst des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts, Vienna, 1995, pp. 326 - 327)
Initially the weavers copied existing tapestry designs as there were no painters who could supply new series. Jean Bérain's engravings formed the central inspiration until the 1730s, while this tapestry with its three companion pieces was inspired by anonymous engravings published by Christian Weigel in Nuremberg. Both Spring and Summer from this series survive in the Stadtmuseum Schwabach while Fall was recorded in Berlin prior to 1933.
A tapestry of the Elements series, which preceded the Seasons series was sold anonymously, Sotheby's, New York, 12 January 1993, lot 273, while another with Watteau-type figures set within grotesques and woven after 1734 was offered anonymously, Christie's, New York, 2 June 1993, lot 83.
(D. Heinz, Europäische Tapisseriekunst des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts, Vienna, 1995, pp. 326 - 327)