Lot 490: A BRUSSELS HISTORICAL TAPESTRY

Third quarter 16th Century, attributed to Jan van Tieghem, after Maerten van Heemskerk Depicting Cyrus dispatching the Israelites from The Story of Cyrus, with the enthroned Cyrus before a draped background with caryatids, before him a male figure presenting a scroll and flanked by attendants and soldiers, within a border with scrolling fruits and animals, the sides with female figures of Geometry and Astronomy and the top and bottom with Sapientia writing, each angle with a coat-of-arms of a crowned eagle, within a later red and blue outer slip and lacking original outer slip, losses and some re-weaving, particularly to the borders, some heightening with color 132 in. (236 cm.) x 1011/2 in (258 cm.) PROVENANCE Supplied to either Imperial Admiral Andrea Doria or to his successor Giorgio Andrea Doria in Fassolo (Genoa). NOTES ANDREA DORIA The coat-of-arms in the corners of this tapestry are almost certainly those of Andrea Doria or his nephew Giorgio Andrea. The Doria family, an old feudal dynasty, was established in Genoa as early as the 13th century and owned numerous houses in the surrounding areas, but no large holdings in Genoa itself. Andrea Doria (1466 - 1560) was orphaned at an early age and became a soldier of fortune. He first served Pope Innocent VIII, then Kings Ferdinand I and his son Alfonso II of Naples. He outfitted eight galleys and patrolled the Mediterranean against the Ottoman Turks and the Barbary pirates, increasing his fortune and fame. Doria bought houses and land in Fassolo (now part of Genoa) starting in 1521. Not even a year later Doria had to flee into exile when the Sanish under Charles V sacked the city. In 1525 he wsa entrusted with the command of the Papa fleet under Clement VII and the following year with that of the French fleet under Fran‡ois I. When in August 1527 the French re-conquered Genoa from the Spanish, Doria returned, now married to Peretta Usodimare Cibo, niece of Pope Innocent VIII. He commenced the renovations at his palace immediately with Perin del Vaga hired as ' direttore artistico '. When in September 1528 his pact with the French King expired and Fran‡ois I did not fulfill his promises to Doria nor to Genoa, Doria switched allegiance to the Spanish and occupied the city for them. Charles V bestowed riches and honours upon him, naming him grand admiral of the Imperial fleet and Prince of Melfi. Genoa was granted status as an independent Republic and was repeatedly visited by Charles V and later his son Philip II who stayed at Doria's palace. Andrea Doria, the foremost naval leader of his time, became the new oligarchic ruler of Genoa and instituted a reformed constitution for the city, which lasted until 1797. His nephew Giorgio Andrea Doria (d. 1606) inherited the title and the family fortune upon his death. He retained close ties to the Spanish Royal family. HISTORY OF THE SERIES This tapestry forms part of a series depicting The Story of Cyrus the Great . Two closely related sets are in the Spanish Royal collection in the Palacio de Aranjuez (P. Junquera de Vega and C. Herrero Carretero, Catalogo de Tapices del Patrimonio Nacional, Madrid, 1986, vol. I, cats. 39 and 40, pp. 279 - 296, including a panel of this design on p. 287). The first set, and probably the editio princeps woven before 1560, bears the weaver's signatures of Jan van Tieghem and Nicolas Leyniers. The cartoons for the series had previously been attributed to Giovanni Stradano (d. 1605) and Michiel Coxcie (d. 1592), but in the catalogue of the Spanish Royal collection the series is convincingly attributed to Maerten van Heemskerck (d. 1574), a Flemish painted in the Roman school. SUBJECT Cyrus ( circa 585 - circa 529 B.C.), regarded father of the ancient Persians, was the grandson of Astyages, King of Medes. Astyages dreamt that the baby would overthrow him, so ordered him slain, but he was rescued by shepherds. Astyages found the boy at 10 but allowed him to live because of his outstanding qualities. Cyrus, when older, revolted against his grandfather, who marched against the rebel. Astyages' army, however, deserted him and surrendered to Cyrus in 550 B.C. Now, as a leader, he conquered wide lands including Babylonia, which brought Mesopotamia, Syria and Palestine under one rule. The subject of this tapestry depicts Cyrus in his first year of reign with a scribe at his side holding the proclamation he makes to the Israelites commanding them to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem. Benjamin, the priests and the Levites lead them; those that remain offer their silver, gold, goods and beasts. Cyrus orders Mithredath, the treasurer, to present the Sacred Vessels, which Nebuchadnezzar plundered, to the Prince of Judah (Ezra, Chapter I). COMPARABLE TAPESTRIES The only other weaving of this subject by Tieghem recorded in the 16th century besides the Spanish set was for the Earl of Hessen-Kassel in 1570 73 (now lost). However, borders of nearly identical design can be found on a set illustrating The Story of Jacob that is signed by Tieghem (L. von Wilckens, Drei unbekannte Jakobsteppiche aus der Manufaktur des Jan van Tiegen, Miscellanea Jozef Duverger, Gent, 1968, vol. II, pp. 779 - 786). A set of four tapestries of this design by Jan van Tieghem from the property of Lord Wantage, Lockinge House, and by descent to the Countess of Clanwilliam, was sold at Christie's London, 8 November 1979, lot 150, this subject being panel 150a. Another set of four is in the collection of the Marquess of Bath at Longleat House, Warminster, while another panel of identical subject was sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 30 November 1990, lot 27.