Fragment of 17th century Flemish tapestry

Fragment of a 17th century Flemish tapestry.
"Escena galante".
Wool.
Measurements: 100 x 122 cm; 124 x 155 cm (frame).

Fragment of Flemish tapestry of the XVII century in which we observe a gallant couple flirting next to a tree, located in an idealized place. The scene takes place in a lake landscape. A small promontory appears surrounded by water, with autumn vegetation. A couple of trees frame the composition, which was originally part of a larger tapestry.

The characters, dressed in traditional costumes, wear bright and vivid colors that stand out in contrast with the more serene chromatic range of the environment, dominated by ochers, greens and blues.

During the 17th century, Flemish and French tapestries achieved great prestige in Europe, becoming coveted objects for courts and aristocracies. They not only had a decorative and sumptuary function, but also served to protect palace walls and convey symbolic or narrative messages. In France, the Gobelins and Beauvais workshops consolidated a style inspired by bucolic landscapes, mythological scenes or historical episodes, which also influenced the Flemish centers.

This fragment preserves the gallant and pastoral spirit that characterizes the textile production of the time, in which the ideal of orderly and harmonious nature dialogues with the characters, evoking a refined world.