The Spanish Royal Tapestries

by Albert Frederick Calvert

CHAP.		PAGE
[I.]	[History of the Art of Tapestry Weaving]	[1]
[II.]	[The Foundation of the Spanish Royal Collection]	[14]
[III.]	[The Gothic Tapestries—Sacred Pieces]	[18]
[IV.]	[Tapestries of the Gothic-Renaissance Transition]	[24]
[V.]	[Renaissance Tapestries]	[55]

ILLUSTRATIONS

SUBJECT		PLATE
The Story of the Virgin. Cartoons by Van Eyck.
[1. Jesus with His Mother]	[1]
[2. The Virgin praying]	[2]
[3. The Adoration of the Magi]	[3]
[4. The presentation of Jesus in the Temple]	[4]
The Story of David and Bathsheba.
[1. David sees Bathsheba]	[5]
[2. Bathsheba consents to the love of David]	[6]
[3. Nathan reproaches David with his sin]	[7]
The Story of St. John the Baptist.
[1. Zacharius recovering his speech]	[8]
[2. The child John devotes himself to God]	[9]
[3. St. John preaching in the wilderness]	[10]
[4. The baptism of our Lord]	[11]
The Passion of our Lord. Cartoon by Van de Weyden.
[In the garden of Olives]	[12]
[The Crucifixion]	[13]
[The descent from the Cross]	[14]
Vices and Virtues.
[1. God rewards worship]	[15]
[2. Virtue punishes vice]	[16]
[3. Fortune distributes roses]	[17]
[4. God rewards those who are devout]	[18]
[5. Virtue rewards her votaries]	[19]
[6. God distributes honours]	[20]
[7. Prudence is commended]	[21]
[8. The faithful gain renown]	[22]
[9. Infamy is punished]	[23]
[10. The law giver delivers judgment]	[24]
The Foundations of Rome.
[1. Romulus and Remus are found]	[25]
[2. Remus taken captive]	[26]
[3. Romulus becomes King]	[27]
[4. Romulus dictates the laws]	[28]
[5. Romulus institutes the Feast of Neptune]	[29]
[6. Romulus gives the laws to the people]	[30]
[7. Hersilia is presented to Romulus]	[31]
Conquest of Tunis. Cartoons by Vermeyen.
[Plan of the campaign]	[32]
[Review of the Army]	[33]
[Review of the Army (part of)]	[34]
[Disembarkation at Goletta]	[35]
[The attack on Goletta]	[36]
[Fight under Goletta]	[37]
[The sortie from Goletta]	[38]
[The capture of Goletta]	[39]
[The capture of Tunis]	[40]
[The sacking of Tunis]	[41]
[The re-embarkation at Goletta]	[42]
[The Army camping at Pada]	[43]
The Story of Abraham.
[1. Three Angels announce to Abraham that Sarah will have a son]	[44]
[2. Abraham offering sacrifice]	[45]
Scenes from the Revelations.
[1. The Angel throws the beast into the Abyss]	[46]
[2. The three horsemen]	[47]
[3. St. John and the seven churches of Asia]	[48]
[4. St. John and the Temple of God]	[49]
[5. Condemnation of the prostitute]	[50]
[6. The Angel carrying the Gospel]	[51]
[7. The crowd adore the lamb]	[52]
[8. The four Angels of Euphrates]	[53]
[9. Combat between good and evil spirits]	[54]
The Seven Deadly Sins.
[1. Luxury]	[55]
[2. Greediness]	[56]
[3. Envy]	[57]
[4. Anger]	[58]
Acts of the Apostles. Cartoons by Raphael.
[1. The miraculous draught of fishes]	[59]
[2. The miraculous draught of fishes]	[60]
[3. The miracle of the paralytic]	[61]
[4. The death of Ananias]	[62]
[5. The martyrdom of St. Stephen]	[63]
[6. The martyrdom of St. Stephen]	[64]
[7. The conversion of St. Paul]	[65]
[8. The blindness of Elymas]	[66]
[9. St Paul at Lystria]	[67]
[10. St. Paul in the Temple]	[68]
[11. St. Paul at Ephesus]	[69]
[12. St. Paul at Ephesus]	[70]
[13. St. Paul preaching in Athens]	[71]
[14. Christ appears to His Disciples]	[72]
[15. Christ choosing St. Peter]	[73]
[16. The paralytic]	[74]
[17. Death of Ananias]	[75]
[18. Conversion of St. Paul]	[76]
[19. The blind man Elymas]	[77]
[20. St. Paul and St. Barnabas at Lystria]	[78]
The Story of Vertumnus and Pomona.
[1. Vertumnus transformed into a husbandman]	[79]
[2. Vertumnus takes a fishing rod]	[80]
[3. Vertumnus transformed into an agriculturist]	[81]
[4. Vertumnus transferred into a gardener]	[82]
[5. Vertumnus transformed into a reaper]	[83]
[6. Vertumnus at the harvest]	[84]
[7. Pomona upbraids Vertumnus]	[85]
[8. Vertumnus disguised kisses Pomona]	[86]
[9. Vertumnus regains his natural form]	[87]
The Story of Scipio Africanus.
[1. The capture of Carthage]	[88]
[2. Scipio saves his father]	[89]
[3. Carthage sends Ambassadors]	[90]
[4. The triumph of Scipio]	[91]
[5. The banquet]	[92]
[6. Scipio gives up his betrothed]	[93]
[7. Scipio gives up his betrothed (section)]	[94]
[8. Scipio delivers judgment]	[95]
[9. The triumph]	[96]
[10. Scipio and Hannibal]	[97]
[11. The triumph of Scipio]	[98]
The Story of Cyrus.
[1. Cyrus takes Astyage prisoner]	[99]
[2. Cyrus is recognised by Astyage]	[100]
[3. Meeting of Cyrus and the Queen]	[101]
[4. Cyrus sends a messenger]	[102]
[5. Cyrus unites the Medes and Persians]	[103]
[6. Cyrus saves Croesus from the Stake]	[104]
[7. The Queen and Cyrus]	[105]
[8. Cyrus takes Croesus prisoner]	[106]
[9. Cyrus and the Lydians]	[107]
[10. Cyrus releases the Hebrews]	[108]
[11. Cyrus is entrusted to a Shepherd]	[109]
[12. Hystaspe and Amenophis]	[110]
The Story of Diana.
[1. Birth of Diana]	[111]
[2. Diana resting]	[112]
[3. Diana and Jupiter]	[113]
The Spheres.
[1. Hercules supports the sky]	[114]
[2. Atlas supports the world]	[115]
The Story of Decius.
[1. Decius raises his country]	[116]
[2. Decius sends lictors to Manlius]	[117]
[3. Decius bids farewell to the lictors]	[118]
[4. Decius departs to fight the Latins]	[119]
[5. Decius dedicates himself to the Legions]	[120]
[6. Valerius and Decius]	[121]
[7. The vision of Decius]	[122]
[8. Death of Decius]	[123]
[9. Funeral of Decius]	[124]
The Story of Venus.
[1. Offerings to Venus]	[125]
[2. The challenge of Cupid and Venus]	[126]
Story of the Creation of Man.
[1. God creates man]	[127]
[2. Cain kills his brother Abel]	[128]
[3. God curses Cain]	[129]
[4. The tree of good and evil]	[130]
The Story of Tobias.
[1. Sarah marries Tobias]	[131]
[2. The return of Tobias and Sarah]	[132]
The Seasons.
[1. Summer]	[133]
[2. Winter]	[134]
The Story of Solomon.
[1. Solomon is annointed King]	[135]
[2. Solomon marries an Egyptian Princess]	[136]
[3. Solomon and the Queen of Sheba]	[137]
History of a Man’s Life.
[1. Divinity advocates Temperance to Man]	[138]
[2. The Vices repulse Temperance]	[139]
[3. Time surrounds him with Prudence]	[140]
[4. Virtue triumphant]	[141]
[5. Patience humiliates Fortune]	[142]
[6. Fortune fights avarice]	[143]
[7. Blind Fortune bestows good and evil]	[144]
[8. Two ancient philosophers]	[145]
[9. Divinity reveals Temperance]	[146]
[10. Vice repulses Temperance]	[147]
Story of Anthony and Cleopatra.
[1. Anthony leaves Rome]	[148]
[2. Anthony receives homage]	[149]
[3. Anthony disposes of Egypt’s treasures]	[150]
[4. Cleopatra mocks Anthony’s weakness]	[151]
The Story of Alexander the Great.
[1. Alexander and his Doctor Philip]	[152]
[2. The battle of Issus]	[153]
[3. The siege of Tyre]	[154]
[4. Alexander in Carmonia]	[155]
[5. Surrender of the Kings of Cyprus and Phœnicia]	[156]
[6. Alexander in Asia Minor]	[157]
[The Triumph of Love]	[158]
[The Triumph of Death]	[159]
[The Triumph of Chastity]	[160]
The Story of Tolemachus.
[1. The young Tolemachus]	[161]
[2. Neptune wrecking Ulysses’ ship]	[162]
The Story of Paul.
[1. St. Paul in the Temple]	[163]
[2. St. Paul before Agrippa]	[164]
[3. St. Paul executed at Rome]	[165]
Temptation of St. Anthony.
[1. St. Anthony departs for the Retreat]	[166]
[2. St. Anthony tempted by the Devil]	[167]
[3. Paradise, Purgatory and Hell]	[168]
Story of the Emperor Octavius.
[1. Julius Cæsar adopts Octavius]	[169]
[2. The battle of Phillippi]	[170]
[3. Octavius closes the Temple of War]	[171]
[4. Death of Cleopatra]	[172]
The Story of Moses.
[1. Moses and Aaron before Pharoah]	[173]
[2. God chooses Moses to deliver Israel]	[174]
[3. Moses comes from Mt. Sinai]	[175]
Battles of the Archduke Albert.
[1. Surrender of Hulst]	[176]
[2. Ardres surprised by a night attack]	[177]
[3. Hulst besieged]	[178]
[4. Taking of Calais]	[179]
[5. The return of the garrison]	[180]
The Story of Theseus.
[1. Theseus leaves for Crete]	[181]
[2. Theseus receives the sword of Ægeus]	[182]
[3. Ægeus recognises his son]	[183]
[4. Theseus armed with the Mace]	[184]
[5. Bacchus marries Ariadne]	[185]
[6. Theseus receives the ring of Minos]	[186]
[7. Theseus leads the bull of Marathon]	[187]
[8. Theseus and the head of Minotaurus]	[188]
[The Funeral of King Turmus]	[189]
[Dido and the Portrait of Æneas]	[190]
The Story of Sampson.
[1. Sampson propounds his riddle]	[191]
[2. Sampson is betrayed by Delilah]	[192]
The Story of Noah.
[1. Noah building the Ark]	[193]
[2. Noah leaving the Ark]	[194]
The Way of Honour.
[1. Grace accords immortal crowns]	[195]
[2. Virtue accords honour]	[196]
[3. Merit receives reward]	[197]
Story of Zenobia.
[1. Nuptial banquet of Zenobia and Odenat]	[198]
[2. Zenobia is taken prisoner]	[199]
[3. Zenobia led captive]	[200]
Story of Don Quixote.
[1. Departure of Don Quixote]	[201]
[2. Don Quixote and the three Peasant Women]	[202]
[3. Princess Micomicona]	[203]
[4. Don Quixote is beaten by the Merchants]	[204]
[5. Don Quixote is enclosed in a cage]	[205]
[6. The Muleteer meets Don Quixote]	[206]
[7. Sancho marches to Toboso]	[207]
[8. Repetitions of preceding pictures]	[208]
Story of Phaeton.
[1. Phœbus allows Phaeton to drive the chariot of the sun]	[209]
[2. Phaeton drives the chariot of the sun]	[210]
[3. Jupiter confounds Phaeton]	[211]
[4. The body of Phaeton is recovered]	[212]
[Chastity puts Cupid to Flight]	[213]
[Rustic Scenes after Goya and Bayeu]	[214]
[Panels after Goya]	[215]
[Quarrel in an Inn, after Goya]	[216]
[Panels after Teniers]	[217]
[Panels after Teniers]	[218]
[Panels after Teniers]	[219]
[Village Dance after Teniers]	[220]
[Panels after Teniers]	[221]
[Descent from the Cross]	[222]
[Christ on the Cross]	[223]
[The Crucifixion, by Van der Weyden]	[224]
[Our Lord appearing to the Holy Women]	[225]
[St. Jerome in the Desert]	[226]
[The Eternal Father]	[227]
[Our Lord and St. Veronica]	[228]
[Mary Annointing the Feet of the Saviour]	[229]
[The Confusion of Tongues]	[230]
[The Last Supper]	[231]
[The Adoration of the Magi]	[232]
[Neoptolemy sacrifices Polyzema]	[233]
[Time and Temperance restrain Cupid]	[234]
[Ulysses accepts the presents of Alcinous]	[235]
[Penelope recognises Ulysses]	[236]
[Courtiers presenting themselves before a King]	[237]
[Children playing—XVIth century]	[238]
[Death of Cleopatra]	[239]
[Portrait of a Woman]	[240]
[Calchas of Agamemnon]	[241]
[A Grove]	[242]
[On the banks of a river]	[243]
[Prince Baltazar Carlos]	[244]
[Allegory of the Tiber and Rome]	[245]
[Imperial funeral bed of State]	[246]
[Royal Arms of Philip V.]	[247]
[Panels]	[248]
[A Frieze]	[249]
[Borders of tapestries]	[250]
[The Passion of our Lord]	[251]
[Death of Absalom]	[252]
[The Birth of Christ]	[253]
[Descent from the Cross]	[254]
[St. Gregory’s Mass]	[255]
[Triumph of Joseph]	[256]
[King Charles III.]	[257]
[Queen Amelia and Saxony]	[258]
[Mythological subject]	[259]
[After the Victory]	[260]
[The Temple]	[261]
[The Colonnade]	[262]
[The Palace]	[263]
[Fragments]	[264]
[Panels]	[265]
[Panels after Andres de Aguirre]	[266]
[Panels after Teniers]	[267]
[Fragments after Teniers]	[268]
[Fragments after Teniers]	[269]
[Panels after Teniers]	[270]
[Fragments after Teniers]	[271]
[Fragments after Teniers]	[272]
[Children playing, after Goya]	[273]
[Panels after Goya]	[274]
[Panels after Goya and Bayeu]	[275]
[Panels after Goya and Bayeu]	[276]
[Coriolanus and his Mother]	[277]

THE SPANISH ROYAL
TAPESTRIES

CHAPTER I
HISTORY OF THE ART OF TAPESTRY WEAVING

THE term tapestry is often applied to any hangings of mediæval workmanship whether woven on a frame or not. This use of the word is incorrect. Tapestry is a fabric woven with coloured wools on to warp threads in a loom or frame, in which the weft completely conceals the warp. It is woven all in one piece. This distinguishes it from embroidery or other needlework to which stitches are added after the groundwork of the fabric has been detached from the frame. The worker weaves directly from a design or cartoon which is supplied to him.

Tapestry frames are of two kinds. In the first the warp threads are arranged in a perpendicular frame, and the weaver sits before his work. This is known as high-warp (haute lisse) weaving, and is the method in use at the celebrated manufactory at Gobelins in France. In the other method the warp threads are stretched horizontally, and the weaver must bend over his work. This is known as low-warp (basse lisse) weaving, and is the process followed at Beauvais. On the whole the high warp weaving gives a fabric of firmer and finer texture.