Flemish Heraldic Tapestry XVII Century Spanish Coat Of Arms Burgos

Woven in wool and silk, the field is decorated with a Hispanic coat of arms and shield, placed in the center of the composition; a helmet decorated with a dog's head stands out like a crest (from the dog's mouth emerges the word ALEGRIA) and is flanked by two ladies in period costume, Justice and Fortitude, and columns draped with fruit and vine shoots, topped with garlands and ribbons, and an upper panel, signed indistinctly on the lower edge.

According to studies carried out by Faustino Menèndez Pidal de Navascués, the coat of arms could go back to the coat of arms of a family from the Navarrese region of Alava, north of Burgos.

This tapestry shows clear stylistic references to 17th-century Flemish production, based on designs by the Flemish painter Antoon Sallaert, a disciple of Rubens (Brussels, before 1590-1650), datable to around 1630, and appears to have been woven in the manufactory of Jan Raes II, a tapestry maker active in Brussels between 1613 and 1643, or Jan Raes III, known as the Younger, active between 1629 and 1650. One of the most striking comparisons is found in the Villa La Pietra in Florence, residence of Lord Acton.

The upper, lower, and side sections all show signs of aging typical of tapestries of this period. There are some cracks, probably due to corrosion of the dyes. The colors are faded, and some missing pieces have been repaired. The piece has recently been professionally re-pasted. The corners are secured with fabric.

For further information, see B. Ciani, A Flemish heraldic tapestry in the Acton collection of Villa La Pietra in Florence, in Filoforme, 2005, nr. 12, pp. 12-15