BRUGES, vers 1640

The meeting of Astrée and Alexis Tapestry from the Histoire d'Astrée hanging, based on Honoré d'Urfé's novel Les Amours d'Astrée et de Céladon. Cartons probably inspired by the engravings in the first editions of the novel. Wool weft, wool and silk chains Wide border with floral vases and cartouches inscribed with landscapes 340 x 394 cm Restorations, reweaving, missing lower border, coin inlays, lined with canvas strips As early as the 1630s, hangings of the story of Astrée were woven in Felletin and then in Aubusson. But the novel's success soon spread beyond France's borders, and Flemish workshops, particularly Bruges, took up the subject. Two other tapestries with this subject are preserved, one in Bruges' Musées Communaux, the other in Castolovice Castle in Czechoslovakia. Bibliography : Guy Delmarcel, Erik Duverger, Bruges et la tapisserie, Bruges, Mouscron, 1987. Guy Delmarcel, La tapisserie flamande, 1999, p. 370 Masterpieces of Bruges Tapestry, Musée Gruuthuse et Memling, 1987, P.381, fig. 46-51/6, possibly illustrating our copy.