A FLEMISH HISTORICAL TAPESTRY

A FLEMISH HISTORICAL TAPESTRY

LATE 17TH CENTURY

woven in silk and wool, depicting the 'Abduction of Helen', with Helen accompanied by Paris surrounded by soldiers, pirates with their booty and other figures, with Troy to the left with ships to the right, the border with oval medallions of classical figures, helmets, armour and military trophies

319 x 483cm

Provenance

Purchased by the vendor's husband (now deceased) from Christie's, 29th July 1972, lot 98.

Catalogue Note

In 1972 it was catalogued as pre-Gobelin by Jean Lefevre and as the 'Abduction of Helen', but the booty and the burning of the city could well suggest that it depicts the rescue of Helen by Menelaus and 'The Sack of Troy'.