Zenobia in front of Aurelian - Lot 9

Zenobia in front of Aurelian H. 4.00 x W. 3.20 m H. 13ft 1 ½ x W. 10ft 6 Iconography: Zenobia was finally defeated. In the present tapestry, Aurelian lets Zenobia live on condition that she goes to live in another place that he will assign her and that she pays into the treasury of Rome her gems, gold and silver, precious silk fabrics, horses, camels. Two tapestries from the History of Zenobia hanging Antwerp or Brussels, late 16th, early 17th century Two tapestries from the History of Queen Zenobia hanging are featured in this sale: Scène de bataille devant Palmyre and Zénobie devant Aurélien. The attribution of these two fine Flemish tapestries to Antwerp is considered with reference to Eric Duverger's 1977 article (op. cit.), which reproduces a tapestry preserved at Hlubokà Castle (Czech Republic, South Bohemia) with a border identical to that of our tapestry, on which an Antwerp mark appeared. Brosens, 2008, in the catalog of the Art Institute of Chicago, reproduces on p. 131 a tapestry from the same ensemble as the present tapestries as being from Antwerp or Brussels. Zenobia was queen of Palmyra from 267 to 272; this legendary Eastern queen was famous not only for her military science, but also for the artistic refinement of her court and her surprisingly austere morals. Her story is told in the Augustan History (Flavius Vospicus, 4th century CE). Materials and condition : Woven in wool and silk (wool warp, 7 warp threads per cm, wool and silk weft), the tapestries have retained fresh colors and are in a good state of preservation. They are framed by an astonishing border decorated with acanthus leaf scrolls, flowers, small figures and old gold vases on a background varying in color from dark red to pinkish beige. References - Brosens Koenraad, 2008 and various contributors, Catalogue, European tapestries in the Art Institute of Chicago - Duverger Eric, 1977, Connoisseur, n° 194, pp. 275 - 287 Provenance : - Sale Sotheby's Munich, 9 -14. October 2000 - Monrepos Castle in Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany