Boy on a Horse
Flemish
Category
Tapestries
Date
circa 1710 - circa 1740
Materials
Wool, silk and linen. 7 warps per cm
Measurements
280 x 171 cm
Place of origin
Belgium
Order this imageCollection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1247036
Summary
Boy on a Horse, Flemish, probably Brussels, style of David Teniers the Younger, c. 1710-1740. In the foreground a white horse drinks from a stream, a small boy sitting on its back and twisting to look behind him. Further back a seated peasant woman fights off a man who manhandles her and pulls her apron. In the background on the left is a rambling farmstead, and to the right a group of peasants dancing. The borders are woven in imitation of a carved and gilded picture frame. They have been sewn onto the tapestry on all four sides, although they could be original to it.
Full description
The tapestry belongs to a genre known as ‘Teniers’ tapestries, with subjects inspired by the paintings of David Teniers the Younger showing scenes from peasant life. ‘Teniers’ tapestries were very popular in the early eighteenth century and there are a number of examples in the National Trust’s collection, including sets at Blickling (nos. 355704-6, 355774) and Nostell Priory (no. 960144). There are two more ‘Teniers’ tapestries at Polesden Lacey (no. 1247022) but these may come from a different set to the present example as they are of slightly finer quality. (Helen Wyld, 2012)
Provenance
Date of acquisition not recorded, but probably originally at 16 Charles Street, Mayfair, Mrs Greville's London home, and bequeathed by Margaret McEwan, The Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville (1863-1942) with Polesden Lacey, to the National Trust, in memory of her father, William McEwan (1827-1913) in 1942. This item found on the probate inventory record for Charles Street chattels at Polesden Lacey, tapestries, page 24.
Credit line
Polesden Lacey, the Anderson Collection (The National Trust)
Makers and roles
Flemish, workshop probably Brussels , workshop
References
Delmarcel, 1999: Guy Delmarcel, Flemish Tapestry, Tielt 1999 Marillier, 1932: Henry C Marillier, Handbook to the Teniers Tapestries, London 1932