A Bruges Historical Tapestry, Late 16th/Early 17th Century

Sotheby's New York, 1 June 1991, lot 283.

G. Delmarcel and E. Duverger, Bruges et La Tapisserie, Bruges-Mouscron 1987, pp. 228 - 229, pp. 434 - 435.

The present tapestry is a part of a series depicting scenes from the story of Pompey the Great. Julia is shown here, turning away in horror from the blood-stained mantle of Pompée, while her attendants comfort her.

According to Plutarch, this episode occurred after a mob had broken out and, amidst the chaos, Pompée's tunic was stained with blood. A slave then brought this garment to his house, where a pregnant Julia saw it and mistakenly believed her husband had been killed. The stress of the situation caused Julia to miscarry her unborn child. She died the following August at twenty-two years old.

See G. Delmarcel and E. Duverger (op. cit.) for the border and inner panel designs, as well as a discussion of the series.