Brussels (Netherlands), ca. 282 x 550 cm, circa 1700. Design: Ludwig von Schoor; the famous designer of cartoons, L. van Schoor worked closely with the members of the workshops of Auwercx, von Hecke, Le Clerck, van der Borght, de Vos and Cobus. The allegorical series of eight tapestries: “die Welt beherrschende Kräfte” can be found in the Viennese state collection and is signed by Albert Auwercx and the aforementioned Ludwig van Schoor. Numerous tapestries with allegories of the months, the seasons and the elements after designs by von Schoor can be found at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, in the Metropolitan Museum New York, etc. Around 1700, the Paris Gobelins style, with its exotic motifs, elegant figures with their long wigs, heavy fabrics, theatrical architecture and park landscapes, had made itself felt even in the tapestry workshops of Brussels. The present tapestry is a classic subject of this time, and comes from a series of “Weltteilebildern” (images from different parts of the world), depicting Asia with camels and palm fronds. Of extremely fine execution using silk, wool and silver wire, the colour and condition of this tapestry are exceptionally good. All the figures and animals are depicted true to life and in good proportions. There is a signature on the left hand: L. van Schoor, Inv. Et Pinx. The blue border was added later, and the piece is fully backed in linen. A cartoon is often used several times and in H. Schmitz’s book, “Bildteppiche” a very similar exemplar is featured and is attributed to the Gobelins manufactory of J. de Vos. (MA)

Lit.: Hermann Schmitz, Bildteppiche, Geschichte der Gobelinwirkerei, fig. 130, p. 255; Dora Heinz, Europäische Tapisseriekunst des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts.