Beschreibung:

A Flemish historical tapestry, probably Brussels, after Karel van Mander II, second quarter 17th century, The Triumph of Mark Anthony over the Parhians, from the Mark Antony and Cleopatra cycle, the central field with richly attired Oriental figures kneeling and standing before the Roman general, standard bearers behind him, before an architectural background; the borders woven with military trophies, figures of Athena and Mars, festoons, lions and vignettes, with Brussels town mark B*B to the lower left selvedge, approximately 335cm wide, 406cm high The present panel shows Mark Anthony's only Roman Triumph over the Parthians circa 33BC, and is part of the larger series of tapestries of the History of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Karel van Mander II is known to have worked on designs for this series in 1621.Most tapestries of this cycle, including one with a border design similar to the present panel sold at Christie's 31 October 2012, lot 139, are variously attributed to Northern Netherlandish workshops including those of Pieter de Cracht and Jacques Nauwincx. It is not impossible that this tapestry originated in one of these workshops, as several sets of the Antony and Cleopatra cycle are documented to have carried Brussels town marks despite their different origins.This is possibly the panel sold at Sotheby's, 12th March 1965, lot 33, which is there described as 'Marc Anthony receiving tribute from the King of the Orient' and 'bearing the B*B town mark in the lower selvedge'. See E. Hartkamp - Jonxis in Flemish tapestry weavers and designers in the Northern Netherlands, Leuven University Press, 2002, pp. 15-41