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Woven Art: A Private Collection of Tapestries and Carpets
|
- Sale 6447
Live
| Chicago
Oct 30 | 10:00 AM CDT
Live
| Chicago
Sale 6447
| Chicago
| Chicago
Estimate$30,000 – $40,000
Provenance:
Private Collection
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2008
Note:
This tapestry depicts a scene from the mythological story of the great Trojan hero Achilles, son of the Nereid Thetis and Peleus, king of Phthia. This specific episode shows the moment when Achilles, who had been hidden by his mother among the daughters of King Lycomedes in Skyros to prevent him from accompanying the Greek army to Troy, is discovered by Odysseus and Diomedes. Odysseus – in Ovid’s description described as disguised as a merchant – comes to Skyros and offers Lycomedes’ daughters garments and weapons. Achilles, still in girls’ clothes, betrays himself by being the only one to take up arms (Ovid, Metamorphoses 13, 160-170) – a scene highlighting the classical themes of deception and fate.
Guy Delmarcel (Flemish Tapestry, Tielt & London, 1999, p. 324) convincingly argues the famous Brussels tapestry workshop of Gaspar and Jan-Frans van der Borcht had commissioned the painter Jan van Orley (1665–1735) for the models and cartoons of this tapestry set. Van Orley borrowed heavily from Peter Paul Ruben’s earlier designs for a set of tapestries with the same story, with elements in the present depiction clearly inspired directly by Rubens (Rubens painting of the same subject, c. 1630-35 is now at the Prado Museum, Madrid).
Lacking borders. The Brussel's mark is intact at the edge. Few repairs for conservation and stability. Linen backing and velcro for hanging. Colors vivid. Additional images are available upon request.
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Corbin Horn
Vice President, Head of Department, European Furniture & Decorative Arts
