Lot 1028* - A206 Decorative Arts - Thursday, 21. September 2023, 10.00 AM
TAPESTRY FRAGMENT WITH THE MUSES ERATO, THALIA AND CLIO
Tournai, 1st quarter of the 16th century.
Depiction of a group of people making music with the muses Erato, Thalia and Clio in a elegant interior. In the foreground, two mythical creatures, in the background, men. Trimmed on the sides and on the bottom, the upper border is composed of assembled pieces and features an inscription.
200 × 226 cm.
Several repairs and restoration. Well-preserved in terms of color.
The tapestry fragment on offer shows some kinship with a tapestry in the Musée Lorrain in Nancy, which has the morality tale "La condamnation de Banquet" as its theme, popular in the Renaissance. In the story, which is meant to warn against gluttony and drunkenness, the main characters Diner, Souper and Banquet receive illustrious guests for a splendid feast. After the sumptuous meal, they move on to Banquet, who sets a trap for the others and invites Illnesses to the feast as well. A great quarrel ensues (depicted on a tapestry on this subject, which is in the Musée-Château de Villevêque). In another episode, Banquet is punished for his misdeed.
Similarities between the tapestry on offer and the tapestry in the Musée Lorrain are the inscription of the main characters with names, the red text cartouches, and the leaf- and fruit border with red bands. The Muses entertaining fit in with the above-mentioned tale equally well. However, due to the fragmentary state of the tapestry, a clear attribution is unfortunately not possible.
The tapestry fragment on offer shows some kinship with a tapestry in the Musée Lorrain in Nancy, which has the morality tale "La condamnation de Banquet" as its theme, popular in the Renaissance. In the story, which is meant to warn against gluttony and drunkenness, the main characters Diner, Souper and Banquet receive illustrious guests for a splendid feast. After the sumptuous meal, they move on to Banquet, who sets a trap for the others and invites Illnesses to the feast as well. A great quarrel ensues (depicted on a tapestry on this subject, which is in the Musée-Château de Villevêque). In another episode, Banquet is punished for his misdeed.
Similarities between the tapestry on offer and the tapestry in the Musée Lorrain are the inscription of the main characters with names, the red text cartouches, and the leaf- and fruit border with red bands. The Muses entertaining fit in with the above-mentioned tale equally well. However, due to the fragmentary state of the tapestry, a clear attribution is unfortunately not possible.
CHF 5 000 / 8 000 | (€ 5 150 / 8 250)
Sold for CHF 6 875 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.