The Camp (left half)
Brussels
Category
Tapestries
Date
1700 - 1800
Materials
Tapestry, wool and silk, 8 warps per cm
Measurements
2.5 m (H); 2.15 m (W)
Place of origin
Belgium
Collection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1247063
Summary
Tapestry, wool and silk, 8 warps per cm, The Camp (left half), from a set of two of the Art of War, Brussels, c. 1700-1720. In the centre a man in military dress stands by a white horse with its back to us. To the right another man on horseback blows a long trumpet, and in front of him a woman offers wine to the dismounting soldiers. Behind a tree in the left background men drink from flasks, and in the left foreground a man sits on the traces of a cart carrying a large beer barrel. The tapestry has no borders and would originally have been part of the same panel as no. 1247064.
Full description
This tapestry and its companion (no. 1247063) originally formed a single tapestry, 'The Camp'. This and a third tapestry at Polesden, 'Forage' (no. 1247062) 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.
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