29 BRUSSELS, XVI CENTURY
Wool and Silk.
H. 6 ft. 9 in.
W. 13 ft. 8 in.
Lent by William Baumgarten & Company.
JUDITH DEPARTS FOR THE ENEMY'S CAMP: Judith accompanied by her maid takes leave of her mother. Attendants await to lead her away and a slave awaits in the background holding two camels. Wide border of fruits and flowers.
This is one of a very famous set of the Story of Judith and Holofernes, examples of which are in a number of famous collections. The tapestry bears on the selvage the Brussels city mark and the weaver's monogram, N. X. The mark is unidentified.
This piece is a strong example of a set that combines characteristic Renaissance stateliness with a less customary direct charm.
30 BRUSSELS, MIDDLE XVI CENTURY
Wool and Silk.
H. 11 ft. 3 in.
W. 12 ft. 9 in.
Lent by P. W. French & Company.
GARDEN SCENE: Through a trellis upheld by caryatides a formal garden with fountains and pavilions is seen. In the foreground, deer. In the garden, various animals. Border of scrolls and flowers with inset cartouches showing animals.
Such trellis designs as this were quite often used in the middle of the XVIth century. A famous example very similar to this is the Vertumnus and Pomona set, one of which was in the Palace of the Escurial and two in the Barberini Collection.[25] Another piece so like this that it must be the work of the same designer is in the Vienna Collection, number 142.