40 - IMPORTANT TAPESTRY, Brussels, c. 1700

IMPORTANT TAPESTRY, Brussels, c. 1700 Atalanta and Meleager Scene from a tapestry series depicting Ovid’s *Metamorphoses* (The Story of Diana) Wool and silk, flat-weave. H. 343 cm – W. 263 cm In very good condition. Maintenance restorations. Lined. This tapestry captivates with its beautiful polychromy and the remarkable vibrancy of its colors, which have remained remarkably vivid. The scene Under a tree, in undulating woodland that opens in the distance onto bluish mountains, the hero Meleager converses with the huntress Atalanta. Meleager is seated on a rock covered with a rich yellow fabric accented with red and pink. He is half-naked, in the manner of ancient heroes, and wears a wreath of foliage. In his left hand, he holds a hunting spear—or perhaps a scepter. He turns to the right and raises his right arm, as if to welcome Atalanta or strike up a conversation. On the right, Atalanta is dressed in a short tunic draped in the ancient style and wears laced sandals. Her white tunic catches the light. Near her stands a peacock, a bird sacred to Juno, the goddess of marriage and royalty. It frequently appears in these mythological and bucolic scenes and lends the garden a luxurious and exotic touch. Lush vegetation frames the scene: tall trees with dense foliage and a ground strewn with low-growing plants, thistles, and acanthus. The Border The border is a beautiful example of Brussels art from the late reign of Louis XIV. It was designed to imitate the carved and gilded wooden frames of master paintings. The brown background is adorned with a continuous, opulent garland of stylized acanthus leaves, flowers, and fruits entwined in ribbons, rendered in warm, gradient colors. It also features crossed musical instruments and two medallions: at the top, a trophy of military and civil attributes crowned with a laurel wreath, an ancient symbol of victory, triumph, and immortality; at the bottom, a cartouche adorned with putti, figures representing Love or Concord. This type of border is found in the Brussels workshops of this transitional period, particularly in the works of Marcus de Vos and Judocus de Vos. Bibliography - G. Delmarcel, Flemish Tapestry from the 15th to the 18th Century, Paris, 1999. - A. Wauters, Brussels Tapestries, Brussels, 1878. Comparable Works Museum of the City of Brussels (Maison du Roi); Museum of Art and History (Cinquantenaire), Brussels; Mobilier National, Paris; Luxembourg Palace, Paris; Cheverny and Azay-le-Rideau Castles.