A Flemish Mythological Tapestry, Brussels, workshop of Nicaise-Aerts early 17th century

possibly depicting Artemisia, an illustrious heroine from antiquity, known for her devotion and who succeeded in erecting a great monument (mausoleum) in Halicarnassus, to the memory of her husband, Mausolus, on his death, woven within a four-sided 'Elements' border, incorporating Neptune and Amphitrite, Nereids and dolphins, exotic and mythological animals and birds, and floral swag across the top border,
woven with the Brussels town mark lower left selvedge, and weaver's mark, lower section of right hand vertical selvedge

Measurements: 255cm across the top and bottom, 336cm along the left side, 335cm along the right side. The tapestry has a professionally attached linen lining, with Velcro attached across the top edge, and slip along lower edge. The condition generally is in good restored condition. The colour is balanced and although faded overall, is still bright and cheerful. Having been restored there are some repairs and later areas such as highlight additions to details, including dark outlines in and red to the mouths. Some minor repair to silks, most obvious in body of animal in left border. There are two vertical splits in the top border, both approximately 32cm long, one being left of the winged mask near the join of wing to mask and the other is through the flying bird off to the right of this motif, through the bird's head. There is some oxidisation in areas, especially to the dark brown inner edging on left side of main design and top of main panel (which exposes the warp threads in areas, and some later repairs, and loose threads. There is a rewoven area in the centre of the lower border, approximately 83cm. long, which includes the heads of the two mer-figures, and a shaped hill area of repair (approximately 51cm long and 4cm at highest) see as area of green of the foliage and grass just inside the lower edge of main area. Despite overall faded colour this is a striking tapestry, of a good size and with a lovely border design (elements and floral swag), finely woven and with some beautiful details such as the clothing of figures.
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The Aerts were a Brussels family of weaver’s, noted in archival documentation to have been active between 1550 and 1707. Nicaise (Nikolaus) Aerts (the Younger), received tapestry privileges in 1613, d.1627/1628. His widow married the weaver Bernard van Brustom. Aerts is known to have been involved with weaving tapestry series from the subjects of the Nine Heroes, Scipio (Boston), Jacob (Philadelphia), Troy (Turin) and Ulysses (Stockholm). Interestingly in the early 17^th century, an increasing number of designs, including historic series were being utilised by the Brussels workshops, which reflects the renewed prosperity of the diminished workshops and industry at the time. There were protective legislative steps taken in response to a petition signed by the nine leading merchants, which included Nicasius Aerts, and claimed on behalf of all Brussels masters and journeyman, the long standing reputation of excellence held by Brussels workshops.

For an attributed tapestry with the same weaver’s mark, identified by Guy Delmarcel as being that of Nicaise Aerts, see ‘The Conference between Scipio and Hannibal before the battle of Zama’, from The Story of Scipio Africanus, Flemish, Brussels, first quarter 17^th century (Acc. No. 04.279 - Museum of the Fine Arts, Boston).

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