A FLEMISH PASTORAL TAPESTRY

Very similar examples, with a pastoral scene flanked on each side by columns and sharp edged verdure, are attributed to Maximilian van der Gucht of Delft. His finest work include the tapestries supplied by to the Swedish court in 1647 (B. von Malmoborg, Slott och Herresoten I Sverige, Malmo, 1971, vol.I, p.63) and to Queen Christina of Sweden for her house in Rome (D. Heinz, Europaische tapisseriekunst, Wien, 1995, p.108).

Maximilian van der Gucht is known to have specialized in landscape scenes with figures and animal groups. Such landscape tapestries were supplied to prestigious commissioners such as the Prince Fredrik Hendrik in 1647. Other notable examples are illustrated in N.de Reynies, La Tapisserie au XVII et les collections Européennes, Paris, 1999, p.186 and D. Heinz, Europaische tapisseriekunst, Wien, 1995, p.110. In addition one was sold anonymously at Christie’s, London on the 11th of May 2000, lot 165.