Tapestry, ca.1480-1500, Flemish; Brussels, Adoration of the Shepherds

Tapestry woven with fine coloured worsteds, silks, and gold and silver threads on flax or light string warps. Represented is the adoration of the infant Jesus by a number of figures. In the centre is the Virgin Mary, seated, and with the nude baby Jesus on her lap. Joseph kneels to her right, slightly in the foreground, and behind him stand Mary Salome and another female. To the left of the Virgin are three adoring angels in copes, one of the latter having orphreys with figures of the Apostles beneath canopies. Behind the Virgin are four shepherds, one of whom plays the bagpipes, and on either side of the of the shepherds is a group of three angels; one group is playing stringed instruments, the other is singing from a book resting on a lectern. The hood of the cope worn by the latter is jewelled, and divided into two by a metal ornament known as a spilla. The foreground is sprinkled with flowers among which lies an open Book of Hours. This composition is surrounded by a border ornamented with foliage and red roses.

Purchased from Signor J. Castellani, Rome.


Letters with reference to the tapestry (see R.P. 6589/88):


21st December 1888.

Dear Armstrong,

I have carefully examined the tapestry to which you have drawn my attention and extremely struck with it; the interest of the design, the unusual beauty of the forms, and the delicacy of the execution seem to give it very high rank among works of its class. I regard it as a most desirable acquisition for your Museum, and tho' I speak with diffidence on the subject of its money value I am inclined to think that the price demanded is fully justified by the quality of the work.

Sincerely yours,

(signed) Fred. Leighton



King's College, Cambridge. December 19th 1888

My dear Armstrong,

I remember Castellani's piece of tapestry very well - on the whole it is perhaps the finest piece I ever saw both for design and execution - evidently by R. van de Weyden. I hope most earnestly that you will secure it for the South Kensington Museum even if it costs £2000, or even more - such rarely fine work is priceless.

I don't remember the Vatican piece you mention, but there is at Madrid (in the Royal Collection) a piece from the same hand and loom as this, tho' not quite such a noble design.

Yours very faithfully,

(signed) J. Hen. Middleton



This piece of tapestry appears by some peculiarities of the border to have been made to fit a panel, probably in some domestic chapel; the costume indicates a date of about 1480; the design is completely Gothic in feeling. It is woven entirely in silk and gold and silver thread, no wool being used. The condition of it is very good, and in all probability careful cleaning would much improve its colour.

In design it belongs to the best Flemish school of the period the composition is remarkably beautiful, the drawing refined and elegant, the faces particularly dignified: the details of the costume etc. of very great beauty, and the colour very harmonious in a pure key. Such pieces are very rarely met with; and price does not appear to me very great considering the undoubted and unusual merits of the piece. I strongly advise the department to purchase it.

(signed) William Morris

The wefts are of very fine wool and silk, which latter is used for the highlights. The flesh tints were probably worked-up in watercolour.

1-1889