America
A rare Flemish tapestry depicting America, from The Four Continents series, Antwerp, the workshop of Jacob Van der Goten, after designs by Lodewijk Van Schoor, late 17th century.
Height: 7ft 9in (235cm) Width: 13ft 10in (422cm)
The late 17th century saw an interest in new subjects and the new world, of exotic long distant lands. Here, in the present tapestry, which comes from the first series of the Four Continents (Australia had, although the Dutch landed in 1616 and the British in 1688, not really been explored until after James Cook’s voyage in 1770), we see the personification of America, with sunrays above her head, holding an arrow, bow and quiver. She is standing by an alligator, surrounded by other female figures wearing feather headdresses, one resting elbow on coffer filled with jewels (symbolising the wealth of the new territories and the importance of trade), another holding a parrot on fist (symbolising exotica together with-turtle, seashells, snake and trees bearing strange fruit).
The designer, Lodewijk Van Schoor , was accepted as a master in Antwerp in 1664, a similar tapestry, in the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., is signed by him. His academic style reflects the Regence, his figures, mostly female, are seated with dignity or stride forth in a rather static manner. He was assisted in the design by Pieter Spierincx, who did the landscape. The designs were owned by the most prominent dealer in tapestries in Antwerp, Nicolaas Naulaerts, who is known to have supplied them to most of the weaving centres: Brussels, Oudenarde and Antwerp. Jan Van der Goten’s workshop in Antwerp is recorded (Denuce) as weaving the Four Continents, the brown border with French ornamentations is typical of late Antwerp production. Another America tapestry, also in the National Gallery of Art Washington, has an inscription Fortuna on the ship’s bow, together with a date, which is illegible. Further example is at Holkham Hall, Norfolk, now a National Trust property, in the Green State Bedroom.
A second series of the Four Continents was woven around 1740 in the Brussels workshop of Jan Frans Van der Borght, signed with initials DH, refer to the designer De Hondt, as designer. A complete set is in the Austrian State Collection,Vienna and other panels at Holyrood House, Edingburgh, the Royal Collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Literature: Jean Denuce, Antwerp Art- Tapestry and Trade, 1936.
Price : P.O.A.
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