17th Century Oudenaarde Tapestry Manufacture Des Flandrs - Tancred In The Enchanted Forest - N° 1631

It features the crusading knight Tancrède entering the enchanted forest of Ismen. Haunted by the memory of his beloved Clorinde, whom he tragically killed in a night battle without recognizing her, he strikes a tree with his sword to break the forest's spells. Here, the spectator catches the precise moment of the prodigy: the bark is slashed (detail visible in the center), revealing the ethereal figure of Clorinde, whose soul is trapped within the trunk. Between fear and pain, Tancrède steps back, suspended between warlike reality and magical illusion.

A true masterpiece from the Manufacture d'Audenarde, this piece is a typical 17th-century "Verdure à personnages".

• The Foliage Work: The density of the trees, treated in a declination of deep blues, greens and ochres, creates an immersive depth. The specific technique used by Flemish weavers to play with light and shadow through the leaves is evident.

• The Character: Tancredi is depicted in superbly detailed "antique-style" armor, topped by a helmet with an imposing plume, underscoring his rank as an epic hero.

One of the major assets of this tapestry is its rich, perfectly preserved original border.

• It forms a powerful architectural frame composed of large cartouches in relief.

• The decoration is a baroque profusion of garlands of flowers, fruit and stylized shells at the corners, characteristic of the Louis XIV taste.

• Four medallions in the centers of the borders feature landscapes in miniature, creating a delicate mise en abyme of the central decoration.

Technical specifications:

• Origine: Oudenaarde, Flanders.

• Era: 17th century.

• Dimensions: 217 cm (Width) x 282 cm (Height).

• Condition : beautiful fresh colors, rich Baroque iconography.

This piece is not only a prestigious decorative element; it is a window onto the chivalric imagination of the Grand Siècle, combining the technical virtuosity of Flanders with the tragic poetry of Tasse.