Tapestry Manufacture Des Gobelins "the Family Of Darius At The Feet Of Alexander" - 17th Century

Provenance: - private collection, Strasbourg Literature: - The Tapestry of the History of Alexander by Jean Vittet and various authors, catalogue of the Exhibition Alexander and Louis XIV, weavings of glory (Paris, Galerie des Gobelins September 2008 - March 2009). - PF Bertrand, D. Chevalier, P. Chevalier, 1988, The Tapestries of Aubusson and Felletin Another variant of this tapestry which belonged to Marie Henri Chaigneau is now preserved at the Bernard d'Agesci Museum in Niort It is a tapestry of low-warp wool and silk with 5.5 warp threads per cm. At the entrance to a tent erected between two palm trees and an oak, Alexander wearing a helmet with green, yellow and blue feathers, presents himself. He is accompanied by Ephestion, one of his officers. At the feet of the Greek prince, the mother of Darius prostrates herself. Behind her, Princess Statira and a young woman (the wife and sister of the Persian monarch), priests and servants kneel inside the tent. The left side of the tapestry is closed by an oak tree, whose trunk is covered with ivy and at the foot of which a woman wearing a blue cap is sitting. In the background, we can see Alexander's camp, where soldiers are resting. Bouquets of flowers and bunches of grapes mingle with the military attributes (cannons, flags, armor, shields, fasces, quivers and bugles) that make up the borders. Iconography: The scene is described in Quintus Curtius, History of Alexander, translated into French in 1655. After the Battle of Issus, Alexander went to Darius's camp, which he had abandoned. The queens of Persia bow before Ephestion, Alexander's favorite, whom they had taken for the conqueror. Darius's mother threw herself at Alexander's feet to ask forgiveness for her mistake. The victor was merciful. Origin of the pattern: The painting by Charles Le Brun that he painted at Versailles (apparently in the presence of the king) is preserved at the Palace of Versailles. This scene was first woven at the Manufacture Royale des Gobelins, from 1664, with the motto It is for a king to conquer oneself. Through the History of Alexander, it is Louis XIV who was glorified, like a new Alexander. Colbert sent copies of the cartoons for the History of Alexander to the Aubusson tapestry makers. These patterns were simplified versions of Le Brun's paintings (Bertrand, Chevalier, 1988, p. 71) Additional information: Woven in wool and silk. Good overall condition. Some wear.