Brussels (Netherlands), The myth of Hercules, c. 354 x 507 cm, first third of the 17th century, very finely woven tapestry with a high silk proportion and wool from a Hercules series. This piece is in excellent colour condition and overall state of preservation without any visible damaged areas or repairs. Entirely mounted on linen. The left lower galloon features the Brussels city mark with red shield and “BB” (Brabant Brussels), and an unidentified master’s mark is visible on the outer right. The same signature is found on a smaller carpet depicting the myth of Hercules at the Mobilier national (formerly Musée des Gobelins) in Paris. Several tapestries with identical border are preserved and can be attributed to the workshop of Bernaerd van Brustom on the grounds of their weaver’s mark. Museo de Artes, Barcelona; Design Museum, Ghent; Sotheby’s, London, 29 May 1970, lot 30; Sotheby’s, London, 12 December 1975, lot 8.

Hercules tames the man-eating mares of Diomedes:
according to legend, Hercules (Heracles) is the ancestor of the Dukes of Burgundy whose offspring allegedly founded the House of Hapsburg. Hercules was given twelve tasks by King Eurystheus in atonement for the murder of his own wife and children. The eighth legendary labour consisted of taming the wild, man-eating mares of the Thracian king Diomedes. The right-hand edge of the image depicts Hercules with his attributes: a club and the pelt of the Nemean Lion, the slaying of which represented the first of Hercules’ labours. The scene shows Hercules leaving the king to be devoured by his own horses. The cruelty of this scene is toned down as a result of the elegant, attractive lines of the gestures depicted. The image is edged with a continuous border decorated with grotesque ornamentation and eight medallions depicting scenes and Latin banners.

Lit.:
Heinrich Göbel, Wandteppiche, Die Niederlande, part 1, vol. 1, Wirkermarken, pp. 8 and 11; Heinrich Göbel, Wandteppiche, Die Niederlande, part 1, vol. 2, ill. 521.