A Flemish Classical Tapestry second quarter 16th century

Possibly from the mythological Story of Dido and Aeneas, the narrative tapestry, woven with the two figures together under cover of trees in the background, cupid depicted with them, carrying bow and quiver and blindfolded, the foreground with the same two standing figures, without cupid, in a landscape setting with river bank and bridge in background and distant buildings and hills, all within a deep four-sided border with exuberant groupings of flowers and fruit, alternating with blue and gold vases, the lower corners with vases issuing distinctive iris plant, on a banded yellow and red ground, with later blue selvedge

The boldly designed and brightly coloured border was woven with variations on the composition to particular effect by the Brussels workshops in the second quarter of the 16^th century in particular, and they were used to surround mythological and biblical tapestries. Many were predominantly woven with the exotic fruit, some with additions of ribbons and sculptural motifs. The format of the tapestries being large figures in detailed borders. An important set of tapestries Crick Kuntziger, Musée Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire de Bruxelles Catalogue des Tapisseries, circa 1954, pp.42-48, pl.32-42,discusses and illustrates a set of tapestries from The Story of Jacob, Brussels, dated 1528-1534, with the recognisable border typed and motifs which served as inspiration to other designers and weavers. Guy Delmarcel, Flemish Tapestries, London, 1999, The Renaissance in the Netherlands, pp.95-118, illustrates several such border types, and a tapestry depicting the mythological subject of  Perseus, (from the Toms Collection, Lausanne), shows a border with the corner vases issuing the distinctive iris plants. Other towns used the style of border, including those in Oudenaarde, however the colouring was different, and the ground being shades of yellow rather than orange and red. Oudenaarde Verdure tapestries of the second half of the 16^th century, used the theme, including vases in all borders, although the motifs were larger and not so compact in design.

This tapestry is not lined overall. There are vertical strips of linen up the two vertical sides. It is recommended that it should be lined with Velcro attached for future hanging purposes. This tapestry has been professional restored. Therefore in good overall condition. It has been cleaned. Charming subject matter with decorative border and of a good size.
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