The Triumph of Titus and Vespasian - Lot 12

The Triumph of Titus and Vespasian Brussels tapestry 17th century, third quarter After Charles Poerson (1609 - 1667) H. 3.75 x W. 5.88 m H. 12ft 4 x W. 19ft 5 The tapestry bears the city mark (shield gules between two Bs for Bruxelles-Brabant) and the weaver's signature: Guillaume van Leefdael (active from 1650 to 1684). Iconography and description: After the Judean revolt, the Eastern army appointed Vespasian emperor (69 CE), who left the siege of Jerusalem to his son Titus. Vespasian was the founder of the "Flavian" dynasty. The triumphal scene takes place after the capture of Jerusalem. Emperor Vespasian (bearded) and his son Titus (beardless) are seated on the triumphal chariot, followed by the cohort of Hebrew prisoners. The chariot is drawn by four white horses, preceded by horsemen and surrounded by armored soldiers brandishing trophies and cult objects taken from the temple. This moving crowd contrasts with the hieratic attitude of the emperor and the immobility of the monuments. It unfolds against a backdrop of temples. We admire the architectural richness, in particular the columns of the various orders: Ionic, Corinthian and Doric. The coldness of the stone and marble is matched by the richness of the fabrics, the splendor of the drapery and the reflections of the silverware. The joy of triumph is contrasted with the sadness of the prisoners. The dimensions of the tapestry allow the protagonists to evolve in almost life-size. On the left of the tapestry, the emperor's chariot is at the center of a pyramidal composition, while on the right, the columns of the temples form large verticals. The composition is framed by a magnificent border decorated with flowers, acanthus leaves and birds. In the center of the upper border, a medallion provides information in Latin about the protagonists: HISTORIA TITI ET VESPASIANI (History of Titus and Vespasian) Material and condition: Finely woven in wool and silk (wool warp, wool and silk weft). Bright colors, maintenance restorations. Provenance: - Hôtel des ventes de Monte-Carlo 15.12.2012 - Private collection - Collection Galerie Chevalier - Collection of Dr. L. Axel Wenner-Gren References - Guy Delmarcel, 2013, L'Histoire de Titus et Vespasien in the catalog of the Exhibition Héros antiques, la tapisserie flamande face à l'Archéologie (Lausanne 76 to 85) - Guy Delmarcel, 1999, La Tapisserie flamande, p. 366, notice sur Guillaume van Leefdael, tapestry reproduced p. 249 - Nicole de Reyniès, 1997, in Charles Poerson (1609 - 1667), Catalogue de l'Exposition présentée à Metz en 1997, Co-authors: Babara Brejon de Lavergnée and Nicolas Ste Fare-Garnot. The present tapestry is reproduced on p. 181. - Revue ABC Décor, November 1971, reproduced on 2 pages (no pagination)