Forest Scene with Falconry Hunt by Filips van der Cammen 1575-1600

Date Created: 09 August 2017

Author: Filips van der Cammen

Source: The Internet

Owner: Cultural Heritage - King Baudouin Foundation

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Link to: Website

Click link to download the file: Forest Scene with Falconry Hunt _ Heritage KBF.pdf (171.54 KB)

  • Belgium
  • Falcon
  • Artwork
  • Painting
  • 16th Century
  • Hunting
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Tapestry. Wool and silk. 276 x 430 cms. Donated by Michel Demoortel. 2008.
Maison Jonathas, Enghien.
 

In creating a Fund within the King Baudouin Foundation, Michel Demoortel’s wish was to protect and promote the heritage of Enghien. Donated to us by Michel Demoortel in 2008, this exceptional Enghien tapestry is of particular interest because it bears the monogram of the town of Enghien and the marque of the workshop of Philippe van der Cammen (PVC). The central theme represents, in the heart of a Renaissance park, a hunting party and exotic animals, two favourite 16th century themes.

The tapestry was woven between 1575 and 1600, a period of great prosperity for the production of tapestries in Enghien. It was around 1575 that, in parallel to the “verdures” tapestries (featuring luxurious greenery decoration with flowers and plants that met with great success), a new manner of representing nature appeared: that of a forest landscape characterized by the play of light and shadow among the leaves. Noble huntsmen partook of their favourite sport, here that of falconry, in a clearing in the midst of a forest. Hunting was a popular hobby among the rich landed nobility.

High in the sky, on the narrow band of the horizon, the falcons can be seen hunting down a heron. Several men follow the assault on foot and on horseback and try to lure back the falcons, using perches, or by shaking around themselves cords to which bait is attached. In the foreground, animals from far-off countries add a touch of exoticism that was highly valued at the time. In the background can be seen elegant pavilions, pergolas and other constructions. In the tapestry borders, flowers and fruit alternate with allegorical and mythological figures.

This is the largest of a series of four tapestries, the remaining three being in a private collection. They represent a castle, wild animals near to a spring and other animals in a forest. They are all decorated with similar borders and bear the monogram of the same weaver.

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The FHT aims to establish a portal for the world's falconers and other interested parties to access aspects of the sport's rich heritage by linking existing physical archives, including international private and public collections, through the medium of an electronic archive. This archive features falconry furniture, works of art, books, correspondence from leading falconers and film and photographic material for the education and interest of falconer and scholar alike. We hope that, whatever your background or interest in our sport, you may find something of value through our archive to deepen your knowledge, understanding and passion for falconry and will help us, through your support, to preserve this precious cultural heritage for future generations.

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