Tapestry thumbnail 1
Tapestry thumbnail 2
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Not on display

Tapestry

1500-1510 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Tapestry made up of two parts of separate hangings joined together, woven with coloured wools upon flax warps or strings. There is a composition of figures and architecture representing two gateways of a large walled city, the ground or turf is sprinkled with flowers. The border contains bunches of grapes and rose branches and runs along the vertical sides of the hanging only. The top and bottom have been cut and patched in parts.

The portion on the left represents a man and woman walking arm-in-arm away from a town. The woman wears a winged helmet; her dress is of crimson and gold covered with a pineapple pattern; the man, who wears a similar patterned robe, has a turban on his head.

The right-hand and larger portion of the hanging is filled with a representation of an important personage in a tunic of cloth of gold shot light blue, over which he wears a shorter one of fine crimson, diapered in gold, having a broad jewelled hem; he wears a high turban. In his right hand he holds a long wand, ending in an arrow-shaped head. At his feet kneels a man giving or receiving a gift, and holding his hat in his hand. Soldiers with lances and halberds, and others are crowding out from a gateway of a town, above the walls of which are seen domes of several buildings; about the battlements are are people gazing down upon the scene beneath them.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Tapestry
  • Tapestry
Materials and techniques
Wool, woven over flax
Brief description
Tapestry, 'Portuguese in India, Landing at Calcutta', Flanders, 1500-1510
Physical description
Tapestry made up of two parts of separate hangings joined together, woven with coloured wools upon flax warps or strings. There is a composition of figures and architecture representing two gateways of a large walled city, the ground or turf is sprinkled with flowers. The border contains bunches of grapes and rose branches and runs along the vertical sides of the hanging only. The top and bottom have been cut and patched in parts.

The portion on the left represents a man and woman walking arm-in-arm away from a town. The woman wears a winged helmet; her dress is of crimson and gold covered with a pineapple pattern; the man, who wears a similar patterned robe, has a turban on his head.

The right-hand and larger portion of the hanging is filled with a representation of an important personage in a tunic of cloth of gold shot light blue, over which he wears a shorter one of fine crimson, diapered in gold, having a broad jewelled hem; he wears a high turban. In his right hand he holds a long wand, ending in an arrow-shaped head. At his feet kneels a man giving or receiving a gift, and holding his hat in his hand. Soldiers with lances and halberds, and others are crowding out from a gateway of a town, above the walls of which are seen domes of several buildings; about the battlements are are people gazing down upon the scene beneath them.
Dimensions
  • Weight: 43kg (Note: Weight with roller and pole)
  • Top edge width: 3348mm
  • Bottom edge width: 3330mm
  • Proper right length: 3312mm
  • Proper left length: 3400mm
Weight including roller. Roller shared between both parts. Dimensions taken from paper record - not checked on object.
Gallery label
(1859)
TAPESTRY HANGING. An uncertain legendary subject. Flemish (Arras?). 15th centy. H. 12ft., L. 10ft. 5in. Bought (Soulages colln) 18l
Object history
Purchased. Formerly part of Soulages Collection.
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Collection
Accession number
5667&A-1859

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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