Baroque Forest View with Birds Tapestry

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Description

The large hand-woven tapestry depicts a forest landscape, the deep vista of which is opened by massive trees with densely … Read more The large hand-woven tapestry depicts a forest landscape, the deep vista of which is opened by massive trees with densely interwoven crowns. The subject belongs to the so-called verdures, landscape tapestries in which trees, foliage and rich vegetation play the main role. In this work, the forest is enlivened by birds perched among the branches, while the lighter parts in the middle of the composition lead the eye from the prominent plant foreground to more distant landscape plans. The color scheme is built on deep blue, petrol and green tones, alternating with cream, sand and ochre shades. The dark silhouettes of the foliage highlight the light treetops and create an impressive rhythm of light and shadow. The delicate pink and muted red accents are concentrated mainly in the framing. When viewed closely, the structure of the fabric itself and the way in which the individual colored wefts model leaves, flowers and bird feathers come to the fore. The wide border that surrounds the landscape on all four sides deserves special attention. Rich floral arrangements with roses and tulips unfold on a dark background, interspersed with unfolded leaves and ornamental volutes. The framing axes are marked by distinctive cartouches with small landscape scenes; the corner cartouches complement the floral motifs. The border thus creates a separate image layer in which the main landscape motif is repeated on a chamber scale. It is separated from the central field by a wide light strip with a muted red line. The height of almost three meters emphasizes the growth of the trees and gives the tapestry a distinct presence in space. from a distance, it appears as a complete image of a forest scenery, while on closer inspection, small natural motifs and elaborate framing details are gradually revealed. The tapestry has been repeatedly restored in the past. It bears traces of age and older repairs, which are especially noticeable when viewed in detail; the overall impression remains clearly legible. On the reverse side, near the upper edge, it is equipped with a Velcro strip, which facilitates installation and removal.

Date: late 17th century. Origin: attributed to Brussels workshops. Technique and material: hand-woven tapestry, wool and silk.
Dimensions: height 297 cm, width 208 cm See less