A Brussels Historical Tapestry from the Series The Story of Cyrus the Great

Attributed to Jan Van Tieghem, after a design attributed to Maerten van Heemskerck, Third Quarter 16th Century

woven in wool and silk, depicting ‘King Cyrus dispatching the Israelites’, with the bearded King Cyrus seated to the right on a throne between draped herm figures, beside him a male figure presenting a scroll headed HEC DICIT CIRUS REX, before him men and women presenting gifts, within an elaborate four-sided border with alternating allegorical figures, wild beasts in landscape vignettes, and central scrollwork cartouches enclosing mythological scenes, interspersed with elaborate strapwork vases, putti and grotesques, the lower border with Latin inscription, FAMA CONSTAT BELLUM and REGNUM AUTEM IVSTICIA ET LIBERALITATE, within further narrow inner and outer scrolling ribbon and stylized floral motif borders.
13 feet 6 inches x 17 feet 6 inches.

Property from a Private Family Trust

This lot is located in Chicago.

Provenance:

Private Collection

Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2008

Note:

En suite with the preceding lot, this tapestry is part of one of the largest and most ambitious narrative series of the 16th century, depicting “The Story of Cyrus the Great." Two closely related sets, one comprising 10, the other 6 panels, are in the Spanish Royal collection, including the present scene, described there as ‘King Cyrus releases the Hebrews’ (see A.F. Calvert, The Spanish Royal Tapestries, London, plate 108).

The subject of this tapestry depicts Cyrus in his first year of reign with a scribe at his side holding the proclamation he makes to the Israelites commanding them to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem. Cyrus, nowadays regarded as father of the ancient Persians, was the grandson of Astyages, King of Medes. Astyages dreamt that the baby would overthrow him, so ordered him slain, but he was rescued by shepherds. Astyages found the boy at 10 but allowed him to live because of his outstanding qualities. Cyrus, when older, revolted against his grandfather, who marched against the rebel. Astyages' army, however, deserted him and surrendered to Cyrus. Now, as a leader, Cyrus conquered wide lands including Babylonia, which brought Mesopotamia, Syria and Palestine under one rule.

A Brussels Historical Tapestry from the Series The Story of Cyrus the Great