Brussels, height c. 330 x width 460 cm, early 18th century, cross-woven silk and wool weaving from a series of hunting tapestries in the late neoclassical tradition. A courtly hunting party, with its noble steeds and falcons, gathers to hunt game birds. The present item’s high quality workmanship creates an impressive effect. Completely preserved, with a few losses and tears as well as old repairs. Entirely mounted on linen. (VP)

See:
Delmarcel, Flemish tapestry, Belgium 1999, page 351.

Prov.:
Counts Henckel von Donnersmarck.

Count Guido Henckel, Prince von Donnersmarck (1830-1916) was one of the most important and successful men of his time in German economy. As the largest Silesian land and mine owner, he exerted a decisive influence on the development of modern economic life in Silesia.
The first three tapestries from a series of hunting scenes (originally offered in around twenty pieces), the mythological tapestry depicting Alexander the Great and the gobelin fragment all come from Neudeck Castle in Silesia (in modern-day Poland). This castle was built on the model of the Château de Pontchartrain near Paris, which the prince also owned between 1857 and 1888. The palace complex with its vast park was one of the largest and most luxurious in the German Empire and was referred to as “Little Versailles” or “Upper Silesian Versailles”. Its unique ensemble comprises the Old and New Palace, the Cavalier’s Palace and the Donnersmarcks’ burial chapel, which was built at the same time. Emperor William II visited the castle several times and enjoyed hunting in the surrounding woods. The emperor, who also often took out loans from the count, eventually elevated Count Guido to the rank of Prince in recognition of his merits in the political and economic fields. As a result, Neudeck became the family seat of a princely house. It was also the administrative centre of extensive estates stretching over a total area of 27,500 ha in Eastern Central Europe, mainly in Upper Silesia (were numerous mines were located), but also in Austrian Galicia and Russian-occupied Congress Poland.
The tapestries were passed down by descent to the Prince’s heirs.