A Flemish, possibly Brussels, Baroque Tapestry of a Hunt, late 17th century

As the present panel was reduced from its original size, it is difficult to state with certainty what scene is unfolding here. However, the presence of a courtly woman dressed in a Roman tunic and the various figures in the procession suggest that it may be from a historical scene, which were common subjects for Baroque tapestries.

The painterly quality of the weaving, evident in the animated movement of the figures and the articulated folds of their garments, recalls the work of 17th century Flemish artists, such as Peter Paul Rubens and Jacob Jordaens, both of whom produced tapestry cartoons and whose compositions frequently served as models for woven works.¹ Although this tapestry does not have any markings, it does bear a resemblance to the weavings produced in the Van den Hecke Workshop, which operated in Brussels until the end of the 17th century and often used Rubens' work as a source of inspiration.²

^1Guy Delmarcel, Flemish Tapestry, New York 1999, pp. 211 - 251.

²Ibid., p. 218.