Early 18th-Century Flemish Tapestry

A scene of military life is beautifully woven into this rare 18th-century Flemish silk and wool tapestry. Crafted with incredible detail and artistry, this monumental tapestry was made in the workshops of the great Jasper van der Borcht and Jeroen le Clerc after cartoons by Lambert de Hondt. The partnership between der Borcht, le Clerc and de Hondt is well known and highly regarded; the trio is particularly celebrated for their famed Art of War series of tapestries that were woven in 1696. Today, sets of this series can be found in the Neues Schloss Schleissheim (Munich) and the Blenheim Palace (Woodstock, England). The present piece similarly depicts a wartime scene, as de Hondt deftly captures soldiers making camp; in fact, it closely resembles the Cutting Fascine tapestry in the Art of War series in both composition and subject.

The masterfully executed scene captures a group of soldiers collecting wood, chopping down trees and gathering branches into bundles. Tapestries such as this were created to adorn the homes of the wealthy and powerful and held a place of great importance. Today, these incredible works of art, especially those retaining the vivid range of color and excellent condition exhibited by this piece, remain highly desirable works of decorative art.

The van der Borcht family were important Brussels weavers who produced works from the late 17th century until late 18th century. Jasper van der Borcht learned the art from his father, Jacob, and later passed the skill to his son, Jan-Frans van der Borght, who continued the workshop until his death in 1763. Jasper van der Borcht produced works on occasion with Jeroen le Clerc, another giant of the Brussels tapestry industry. The pieces that resulted from this partnership are generally regarded among the great masterpieces of Flemish tapestry art.

Early 18th Century

115" high x 122" wide