Chapter I: Preface

In point of size, scope and general interest, this little book is perhaps the least considerable of the score of volumes comprised in The Spanish Series, but the collection would have lacked something of the completeness I have endeavoured to secure for it, if the subject of which it treats had not been included. As is inevitable in a series of this kind, many of the books are devoted to aspects and monuments of Spanish history and achievement, which have served the purpose of writers in all ages, but which could not, on that account, be omitted, while others have an imperative claim to inclusion on the ground that, though of secondary importance, they have never been dealt with elsewhere.

The Tapestries which are here reproduced in greater number and variety than has hitherto been attempted are known to students and connoisseurs the world over, but the measure of that knowledge is limited. Many of the pieces in the possession of the Spanish Crown were acquired by purchase or inheritance, and others were woven in the Netherlands to the command of its Burgundian rulers, Margaret of Austria and Mary of Hungary. The fabrics designed by Goya owed their existence to the extraordinary interest displayed in the products of the looms by Charles III., while the famous Tunis Tapestries were designed and woven by Jan Vermay or Vermeyen, the Court painter and Wilhelm Pannemaker, the celebrated Flemish weaver, under the personal direction of the Emperor Charles V. Vermeyen accompanied the expedition which was launched against Tunis by Charles in 1535 and made his sketches on the spot; the contract given to Pannemaker by his Imperial patron stipulated the amount and quality of the silk and the number and value of the gold and silver threads to be employed; and both designs and finished pieces had to be submitted to the Emperor’s scrutiny and approval before the purchase price was paid.

The Tunis Series was completed in 1554. The Tapestries were displayed in England on the occasion of the marriage of Philip and Mary in that year, and were not seen again in this country until 360 years later. They subsequently figured in all the great functions of the Spanish Court, and it was due to the Emperor’s fear that constant usage would injure the fabrics that a duplicate set, but on a smaller scale, was woven. The twelve pieces were again reproduced, on the same scale as the original frames, in 1740 by order of Philip V. A third copy is preserved in the Museum at Vienna, and a fourth, woven by Pannemaker, was found by the Maréchal de Contades in a castle near Mecklin during the Seven Years War.

This collection of Spanish Royal Tapestries has been steadily accumulating since the thirteenth century, but the practice of weaving was not introduced into Spain until the first quarter of the seventeenth century when a little colony of Flemish weavers, subsidised by the King of Spain, settled at Pastrau in New Castile. A century later, at the invitation of Philip V., Jacques Van Der Goten and his four sons, established themselves in an _atalier_ in Madrid, and in 1776 Goya drew the first of the forty-five designs for Tapestries which, in the following fifteen years, were woven in the Royal workshops of Santa Barbara in Madrid.

Although this wonderful collection has been added to by successive Spanish sovereigns over a period of six centuries, no effort was made to arrange, classify, or catalogue the fabrics until the work was put in hand at the instigation of Alfonso XII., and carried to completion by the late Queen Isabella. In 1903 an album of photographic reproductions of many of the finest specimens was published with historical and descriptive notes by Count Valencia de Don Juan, and this remained the only volume on the subject until 1914, when I prepared an illustrated handbook of the Tunis Series which, by gracious permission of King Alfonso, were displayed at the Anglo-Spanish Exhibition in London. The present book is the first attempt that has been made to present in English a record of the most valuable and interesting examples in the Royal Collection.

ALBERT. F. CALVERT.

“ROYSTON,”

ETON AVENUE,

LONDON.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. HISTORY OF THE ART OF TAPESTRY WEAVING 1

II. THE FOUNDATION OF THE SPANISH ROYAL COLLECTION 14

III. THE GOTHIC TAPESTRIES--SACRED PIECES 18

IV. TAPESTRIES OF THE GOTHIC-RENAISSANCE TRANSITION 24

V. RENAISSANCE TAPESTRIES 55

ILLUSTRATIONS

SUBJECT PLATE

THE STORY OF THE VIRGIN. CARTOONS BY VAN EYCK.

1. Jesus with His Mother 1

2. The Virgin praying 2

3. The Adoration of the Magi 3

4. The presentation of Jesus in the Temple 4

THE STORY OF DAVID AND BATHSHEBA.

1. David sees Bathsheba 5

2. Bathsheba consents to the love of David 6

3. Nathan reproaches David with his sin 7

THE STORY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.

1. Zacharius recovering his speech 8

2. The child John devotes himself to God 9

3. St. John preaching in the wilderness 10

4. The baptism of our Lord 11

THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. CARTOON BY VAN DE WEYDEN.

In the garden of Olives 12

The Crucifixion 13

The descent from the Cross 14

VICES AND VIRTUES.

1. God rewards worship 15

2. Virtue punishes vice 16

3. Fortune distributes roses 17

4. God rewards those who are devout 18

5. Virtue rewards her votaries 19

6. God distributes honours 20

7. Prudence is commended 21

8. The faithful gain renown 22

9. Infamy is punished 23

10. The law giver delivers judgment 24

THE FOUNDATIONS OF ROME.

1. Romulus and Remus are found 25

2. Remus taken captive 26

3. Romulus becomes King 27

4. Romulus dictates the laws 28

5. Romulus institutes the Feast of Neptune 29

6. Romulus gives the laws to the people 30

7. Hersilia is presented to Romulus 31

CONQUEST OF TUNIS. CARTOONS BY VERMEYEN.

Plan of the campaign 32

Review of the Army 33

Review of the Army (part of) 34

Disembarkation at Goletta 35

The attack on Goletta 36

Fight under Goletta 37

The sortie from Goletta 38

The capture of Goletta 39

The capture of Tunis 40

The sacking of Tunis 41

The re-embarkation at Goletta 42

The Army camping at Pada 43

THE STORY OF ABRAHAM.

1. Three Angels announce to Abraham that Sarah will have a son 44

2. Abraham offering sacrifice 45

SCENES FROM THE REVELATIONS.

1. The Angel throws the beast into the Abyss 46

2. The three horsemen 47

3. St. John and the seven churches of Asia 48

4. St. John and the Temple of God 49

5. Condemnation of the prostitute 50

6. The Angel carrying the Gospel 51

7. The crowd adore the lamb 52

8. The four Angels of Euphrates 53

9. Combat between good and evil spirits 54

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS.

1. Luxury 55

2. Greediness 56

3. Envy 57

4. Anger 58

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. CARTOONS BY RAPHAEL.

1. The miraculous draught of fishes 59

2. The miraculous draught of fishes 60

3. The miracle of the paralytic 61

4. The death of Ananias 62

5. The martyrdom of St. Stephen 63

6. The martyrdom of St. Stephen 64

7. The conversion of St. Paul 65

8. The blindness of Elymas 66

9. St Paul at Lystria 67

10. St. Paul in the Temple 68

11. St. Paul at Ephesus 69

12. St. Paul at Ephesus 70

13. St. Paul preaching in Athens 71

14. Christ appears to His Disciples 72

15. Christ choosing St. Peter 73

16. The paralytic 74

17. Death of Ananias 75

18. Conversion of St. Paul 76

19. The blind man Elymas 77

20. St. Paul and St. Barnabas at Lystria 78

THE STORY OF VERTUMNUS AND POMONA.

1. Vertumnus transformed into a husbandman 79

2. Vertumnus takes a fishing rod 80

3. Vertumnus transformed into an agriculturist 81

4. Vertumnus transferred into a gardener 82

5. Vertumnus transformed into a reaper 83

6. Vertumnus at the harvest 84

7. Pomona upbraids Vertumnus 85

8. Vertumnus disguised kisses Pomona 86

9. Vertumnus regains his natural form 87

THE STORY OF SCIPIO AFRICANUS.

1. The capture of Carthage 88

2. Scipio saves his father 89

3. Carthage sends Ambassadors 90

4. The triumph of Scipio 91

5. The banquet 92

6. Scipio gives up his betrothed 93

7. Scipio gives up his betrothed (section) 94

8. Scipio delivers judgment 95

9. The triumph 96

10. Scipio and Hannibal 97

11. The triumph of Scipio 98

THE STORY OF CYRUS.

1. Cyrus takes Astyage prisoner 99

2. Cyrus is recognised by Astyage 100

3. Meeting of Cyrus and the Queen 101

4. Cyrus sends a messenger 102

5. Cyrus unites the Medes and Persians 103

6. Cyrus saves Croesus from the Stake 104

7. The Queen and Cyrus 105

8. Cyrus takes Croesus prisoner 106

9. Cyrus and the Lydians 107

10. Cyrus releases the Hebrews 108

11. Cyrus is entrusted to a Shepherd 109

12. Hystaspe and Amenophis 110

THE STORY OF DIANA.

1. Birth of Diana 111

2. Diana resting 112

3. Diana and Jupiter 113

THE SPHERES.

1. Hercules supports the sky 114

2. Atlas supports the world 115

THE STORY OF DECIUS.

1. Decius raises his country 116

2. Decius sends lictors to Manlius 117

3. Decius bids farewell to the lictors 118

4. Decius departs to fight the Latins 119

5. Decius dedicates himself to the Legions 120

6. Valerius and Decius 121

7. The vision of Decius 122

8. Death of Decius 123

9. Funeral of Decius 124

THE STORY OF VENUS.

1. Offerings to Venus 125

2. The challenge of Cupid and Venus 126

STORY OF THE CREATION OF MAN.

1. God creates man 127

2. Cain kills his brother Abel 128

3. God curses Cain 129

4. The tree of good and evil 130

THE STORY OF TOBIAS.

1. Sarah marries Tobias 131

2. The return of Tobias and Sarah 132

THE SEASONS.

1. Summer 133

2. Winter 134

THE STORY OF SOLOMON.

1. Solomon is annointed King 135

2. Solomon marries an Egyptian Princess 136

3. Solomon and the Queen of Sheba 137

HISTORY OF A MAN’S LIFE.

1. Divinity advocates Temperance to Man 138

2. The Vices repulse Temperance 139

3. Time surrounds him with Prudence 140

4. Virtue triumphant 141

5. Patience humiliates Fortune 142

6. Fortune fights avarice 143

7. Blind Fortune bestows good and evil 144

8. Two ancient philosophers 145

9. Divinity reveals Temperance 146

10. Vice repulses Temperance 147

STORY OF ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA.

1. Anthony leaves Rome 148

2. Anthony receives homage 149

3. Anthony disposes of Egypt’s treasures 150

4. Cleopatra mocks Anthony’s weakness 151

THE STORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

1. Alexander and his Doctor Philip 152

2. The battle of Issus 153

3. The siege of Tyre 154

4. Alexander in Carmonia 155

5. Surrender of the Kings of Cyprus and Phœnicia 156

6. Alexander in Asia Minor 157

THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE 158

THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH 159

THE TRIUMPH OF CHASTITY 160

THE STORY OF TOLEMACHUS.

1. The young Tolemachus 161

2. Neptune wrecking Ulysses’ ship 162

THE STORY OF PAUL.

1. St. Paul in the Temple 163

2. St. Paul before Agrippa 164

3. St. Paul executed at Rome 165

TEMPTATION OF ST. ANTHONY.

1. St. Anthony departs for the Retreat 166

2. St. Anthony tempted by the Devil 167

3. Paradise, Purgatory and Hell 168

STORY OF THE EMPEROR OCTAVIUS.

1. Julius Cæsar adopts Octavius 169

2. The battle of Phillippi 170

3. Octavius closes the Temple of War 171

4. Death of Cleopatra 172

THE STORY OF MOSES.

1. Moses and Aaron before Pharoah 173

2. God chooses Moses to deliver Israel 174

3. Moses comes from Mt. Sinai 175

BATTLES OF THE ARCHDUKE ALBERT.

1. Surrender of Hulst 176

2. Ardres surprised by a night attack 177

3. Hulst besieged 178

4. Taking of Calais 179

5. The return of the garrison 180

THE STORY OF THESEUS.

1. Theseus leaves for Crete 181

2. Theseus receives the sword of Ægeus 182

3. Ægeus recognises his son 183

4. Theseus armed with the Mace 184

5. Bacchus marries Ariadne 185

6. Theseus receives the ring of Minos 186

7. Theseus leads the bull of Marathon 187

8. Theseus and the head of Minotaurus 188

THE FUNERAL OF KING TURMUS 189

DIDO AND THE PORTRAIT OF ÆNEAS 190

THE STORY OF SAMPSON.

1. Sampson propounds his riddle 191

2. Sampson is betrayed by Delilah 192

THE STORY OF NOAH.

1. Noah building the Ark 193

2. Noah leaving the Ark 194

THE WAY OF HONOUR.

1. Grace accords immortal crowns 195

2. Virtue accords honour 196

3. Merit receives reward 197

STORY OF ZENOBIA.

1. Nuptial banquet of Zenobia and Odenat 198

2. Zenobia is taken prisoner 199

3. Zenobia led captive 200

STORY OF DON QUIXOTE.

1. Departure of Don Quixote 201

2. Don Quixote and the three Peasant Women 202

3. Princess Micomicona 203

4. Don Quixote is beaten by the Merchants 204

5. Don Quixote is enclosed in a cage 205

6. The Muleteer meets Don Quixote 206

7. Sancho marches to Toboso 207

8. Repetitions of preceding pictures 208

STORY OF PHAETON.

1. Phœbus allows Phaeton to drive the chariot of the sun 209

2. Phaeton drives the chariot of the sun 210

3. Jupiter confounds Phaeton 211

4. The body of Phaeton is recovered 212

CHASTITY PUTS CUPID TO FLIGHT 213

RUSTIC SCENES AFTER GOYA AND BAYEU 214

PANELS AFTER GOYA 215

QUARREL IN AN INN, AFTER GOYA 216

PANELS AFTER TENIERS 217

PANELS AFTER TENIERS 218

PANELS AFTER TENIERS 219

VILLAGE DANCE AFTER TENIERS 220

PANELS AFTER TENIERS 221

DESCENT FROM THE CROSS 222

CHRIST ON THE CROSS 223

THE CRUCIFIXION, BY VAN DER WEYDEN 224

OUR LORD APPEARING TO THE HOLY WOMEN 225

ST. JEROME IN THE DESERT 226

THE ETERNAL FATHER 227

OUR LORD AND ST. VERONICA 228

MARY ANNOINTING THE FEET OF THE SAVIOUR 229

THE CONFUSION OF TONGUES 230

THE LAST SUPPER 231

THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI 232

NEOPTOLEMY SACRIFICES POLYZEMA 233

TIME AND TEMPERANCE RESTRAIN CUPID 234

ULYSSES ACCEPTS THE PRESENTS OF ALCINOUS 235

PENELOPE RECOGNISES ULYSSES 236

COURTIERS PRESENTING THEMSELVES BEFORE A KING 237

CHILDREN PLAYING--XVITH CENTURY 238

DEATH OF CLEOPATRA 239

PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN 240

CALCHAS OF AGAMEMNON 241

A GROVE 242

ON THE BANKS OF A RIVER 243

PRINCE BALTAZAR CARLOS 244

ALLEGORY OF THE TIBER AND ROME 245

IMPERIAL FUNERAL BED OF STATE 246

ROYAL ARMS OF PHILIP V. 247

PANELS 248

A FRIEZE 249

BORDERS OF TAPESTRIES 250

THE PASSION OF OUR LORD 251

DEATH OF ABSALOM 252

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 253

DESCENT FROM THE CROSS 254

ST. GREGORY’S MASS 255

TRIUMPH OF JOSEPH 256

KING CHARLES III. 257

QUEEN AMELIA AND SAXONY 258

MYTHOLOGICAL SUBJECT 259

AFTER THE VICTORY 260

THE TEMPLE 261

THE COLONNADE 262

THE PALACE 263

FRAGMENTS 264

PANELS 265

PANELS AFTER ANDRES DE AGUIRRE 266

PANELS AFTER TENIERS 267

FRAGMENTS AFTER TENIERS 268

FRAGMENTS AFTER TENIERS 269

PANELS AFTER TENIERS 270

FRAGMENTS AFTER TENIERS 271

FRAGMENTS AFTER TENIERS 272

CHILDREN PLAYING, AFTER GOYA 273

PANELS AFTER GOYA 274

PANELS AFTER GOYA AND BAYEU 275

PANELS AFTER GOYA AND BAYEU 276

CORIOLANUS AND HIS MOTHER 277

THE SPANISH ROYAL TAPESTRIES