Live Auction 1527The Barbara Piasecka Johnson Collection Proceeds to Benefit the Barbara Johnson Foundation
A NEAR PAIR OF FLEMISH BIBLICAL TAPESTRIES
Lot 1011

A NEAR PAIR OF FLEMISH BIBLICAL TAPESTRIES

BRUSSELS, SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY

Closed17 July 2014

Price Realised

GBP 47,500

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A NEAR PAIR OF FLEMISH BIBLICAL TAPESTRIES
BRUSSELS, SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY
Woven in wools and silks, depicting 'Noah's Drunkenness' and 'Noah Planting a Vineyard' from the series 'The Story of Noah', with Noah seated in the foreground, within an architectural border with named allegorical figures, one top with a scroll inscribed 'NOE VEREDA PRISCAM FRIBESSERETECTA/ NVCIAT ASTIAPHET SEMQ3 VIDERE NEGAT', the other 'VITIM PLANTAVIT NOE./ ET SIC PRIMVS IN HERBE./ PANTATOR VINVM BIBIT./ D V L CIACAPT A OBDORIVIT.', areas of restoration and reweaving, 'Noah Planting a Vineyard' with restored vertical cut
122 in. (310 cm.) high; 95 1/8 in. (242 cm.) wide;
125 7/8 in. (320 cm.) high; 101 ½ in. (258 cm.) wide

Specialist note

This pair of tapestries from a series depicting 'The Life of Noah' are related to a suite designed by the 'Flemish Raphael' Michel Coxcie (1499-1592). Probably the first from that series to be completed and consisting of eight panels was supplied to King Sigismund II Augustus of Poland as part of the 142 tapestries he purchased in The Netherlands between 1548 and 1572 (G. Delmarcel, Flemish Tapestry, Tielt, 1999, pp. 130-134). This pair, although related, was designed by an unidentified contemporary artist. The borders with their strapwork framed tablets to the top are related to several sets woven by Frans Geubels (De Bloeitijd van de Vlaamse Tapijtkunst, Brussels, 1969, p. 157, fig. 16, and p. 161, fig. 17). Frans Geubels (d. 1585) was born in Antwerp, then recorded in Brussels as a Poorter in 1544 and active until 1571.