Vertumne and Pomona - Lot 19

Vertumne and Pomona French tapestry 17th century, first half, Signed in the right side border PD H. 3.40 x W. 3.35 m H. 11ft 2 x W. 11ft The PD signature is probably that of Pierre Damour, a weaver active in Reims and Paris during the first half of the 17th century. Another possibility is Daniel Pepersack. The two weavers worked together between 1638 and 1650. Origin of the model : It seems that the cartonnier drew inspiration from Simon Vouet's famous Amours des Dieux. The photocopy of an unmarked tapestry in the Galerie Chevalier documentation, depicting the Abduction of Proserpine by Pluto after Simon Vouet, has the same border. Iconography: In The Metamorphoses, Ovid sang of the love of Vertumne and Pomona, Roman deities of nature and protectors of gardens, orchards and ripening fruit. Vertumne, whose name comes from vertere, to change, repeatedly tried to seduce Pomona by changing his appearance (the allegory of the seasons). He appeared to her as a ploughman, harvester, winegrower and gardener, but to no avail. Finally, he took on the appearance of an old woman, told her a story and pleaded his own case. Then he revealed himself in his true nature, a shining young god. Pomona couldn't resist, fell in love with him and accepted his love. Materials and condition : Woven in wool and silk (warp in wool, weft in wool and silk) some old restorations and reweaving in the brown parts. Provenance: - Sale in Calais, Eric Pillon, May 1998 References: - For French marks, see Nicole de Reyniès, 2002 Les Lissiers flamands en France au XVIIe siècle et considérations sur leur marques in Actes du colloque tenu à Malines 2-3 octobre 2002, Manufacture de Wit, Flemish tapestry weavers abroad, Emigration and the founding of manufactories in Europe, edited by Guy Delmarcel.