Two other copies, also woven in gold, were made by Pannemaker at the command of Philip II. These are hung in the State dining-hall of the palace. The fourth copy, in silk and wool only, was made for John of Austria, and by him bequeathed to Philip II.
The Story of Scipio Africanus (6 Tapestries)
This fine series of tapestries offers an interesting contrast with the other historical series already described, The Conquest of Tunis. The story of Scipio is in pure Renaissance style, and though the designer of the cartoons is unknown, they show very strongly the influence of Giulio Romano, and may even have proceeded from his pencil. Only one piece of the tapestry bears a weaver’s mark, which has not been deciphered. They were inherited by Charles V. from his sister, Mary of Hungary, on her death in 1558.
The tapestries represent incidents in the life of Publius Cornelius Scipio, the elder, surnamed Africanus from his triumphs against the Carthaginians. Scipio was one of Rome’s greatest generals, and also a man of very considerable culture, who wrote his own memoirs in Greek. He was also an accomplished orator and was popularly supposed to hold direct communication with the gods.
The tapestries deal mostly with Scipio’s campaigns in Spain and Africa. The year after his father’s death he had offered himself for the command in Spain. In spite of his youth he was unanimously elected. He had previously fought at the disastrous battles of Ticinus, the Trebia, and Cannæ.
All Spain south of the Ebro was in the hands of the Carthaginians, but the three great Punic generals were preoccupied with revolts in Africa and were in disagreement amongst themselves. Taking advantage of this, Scipio unexpectedly attacked and captured New Carthage, a large supply of war materials falling into his hands. This victory he followed up in 209 B.C. by driving Hasdrubal from Barcelona and the upper Guadalquivir.
After further victories in Spain Scipio returned to Rome and was elected Consul for Sicily. In 204 B.C. he again sailed for Africa and landed near Utica. He destroyed two combined armies of the Carthaginians and the Numidians, and after peace negotiations were finally broken off gained a crushing victory over Hannibal near Zama. This gained him the surname of Africanus.
Some years later Scipio was charged together with his brother with peculation. On the day of his trial, however, by reminding the people that this was the anniversary of Zama he was acquitted amid great acclamations. He then retired into private life.
The tapestries represent:
Tapestry No. 1. Siege and assault of Carthage by Scipio Africanus.