TAPESTRY, WOOL AND SILK, WITH SILVER THREAD HIGHLIGHTS, BRUSSELS, JEAN-FRANÇOIS VAN DEN HECKE WORKSHOP, CIRCA 1670 From the Seasons tapestry, Spring or Ceres and Proserpine in front of a dead tree stump with vine shoots being reborn, on a bacchanalian background with Bachus and wine barrels, border of flowers, fruits and bunches of grapes, blue braid, woven mark and signature B B and I. F. V. HECKE (Worn, torn, cleaned but not restored, awaiting conservation restoration) A Brussels wool and silk tapestry, with silver thread highlights, Atelier Jean-François Van den Hecke, circa 1670 374 x 442,50 CM - 147,2 x 174,2 IN Jean-François van den Hecke worked with his father François, whom he succeeded around 1675 and was still active around 1700. Proserpine is the daughter of Jupiter and Ceres, goddess of wheat and harvest. She was kidnapped by Pluto, god of the underworld. Ceres will wander around looking for her. During this time, the earth has become barren. Proserpine obtains to return on earth in Spring to fertilize nature. The dead tree becomes a vine again, gives grapes and then wine. The wine in barrel resulting from the vine is drunk during the bacchanal. Guy Delmarcel, La Tapisserie Flamande, p. 305 : "The examples inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses lent themselves particularly well to this type of textile. This same title was given in 1700 to a Brussels series of eight pieces, each six aunes (about 4.14 m) high, illustrating the following subjects: Ceres seeking her daughter Proserpine. 218 "François van den Hecke obtained privileges in 1629 and became dean of the corporation in 1640. At his death in 1675, he left an impressive number of models and cartoons which were bought not only by his son Jean-François but also by the most prominent weavers. He exercised his profession until the beginning of the XVIIIth century". "6000