Forage
Brussels
Category
Tapestries
Date
circa 1700 - circa 1720
Materials
Tapestry, wool and silk, 8 warps per cm
Measurements
2.5 m (H); 2.25 m (W)
Place of origin
Belgium
Collection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey (Accredited Museum)
NT 1247062
Summary
Tapestry, wool and silk, 8 warps per cm, Forage, from a set of three of the Art of War, Brussels, c. 1700-1720. In the foreground are four horses laden with freshly cut grass. A man stands to the right of the horses, and another kneels in the foreground. The tapestry has no borders and would originally have been part of a larger panel.
Full description
This tapestry and two pieces of another, 'The Camp' (nos. 1247063 and 1247064) are part of a larger series known as the 'Art of War', designed by Lambert de Hondt and first woven in Brussels for the Elector of Bavaria in 1696. The series was not intended to represent a specific battle, but to illustrate the actions and occurrences that a typical army engaged in on campaign. Seven editions of the original 'Art of War' series were woven, including sets for the Duke of Marlborough and many of his generals. One of these, woven for the Earl of Orkney, is in the National Trust's collection at Cliveden Manor (no. 766287). A second, expanded version of the series was produced from 1715 onwards. For the genesis of the designs see Wace 1968, pp. 90-102; Delmarcel 1999, pp. 342-51; Bapasola 2005, pp. 33-40. (Helen Wyld, 2012)
Provenance
Bequeathed by Margaret Anderson, The Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville (1863-1942) with Polesden Lacey, to the National Trust, in memory of her father, William McEwen (1827-1913)
Credit line
Polesden Lacey, the Anderson Collection (The National Trust)
Makers and roles
Brussels , workshop
References
Bapasola, 2005: Jeri Bapasola, Threads of History: The Tapestries at Blenheim Palace, Lydney 2005 Delmarcel, 1999: Guy Delmarcel, Flemish Tapestry, Tielt 1999 Wace 1968: A J B Wace, The Marlborough Tapestries and their Relation to other Military Tapestries of the War of the Spanish Succession, London and New York, 1968