Tapestry with Amadis Rescuing Oriana
François Spierincx , 1602
Description
Border as in previous tapestry, with the addition in the center of the upper and lower sides of squares in which Jupiter and Juno are depicted, respectively. Marks and lettering as in the previous tapestry. The tapestry depicts a forest in which appear: in the foreground, a lady offering her right hand to the kiss of a warrior; in the background, a knight facing some adversaries, after having slaughtered others; in the background, a narrow path giving access to a hermitage in front of which stands a large cross. On the clearing in front of the hermitage a monk greets a knight. In good state of preservation. Again, identification of the episode depicted is not easy. However, the presence of the hermitage seems to point to Canto IV of Orlando Furioso as the source.
From above, they would be depicted: Rinaldo who “without squire or company” arrives “through that immense wilderness” to a “cenobio” where he receives a “beautiful welcome.” There he is informed of the sad case of Guinevere, unjustly accused; in the sequel, Rinaldo defeats the slanderers in a tussle and propitiates Guinevere’s marriage to her beloved Ariodante (the two characters in the foreground?).
Data Sheet
Author
François Spiering, 1550 ca.-1631
Date
1602
Material and technique
wool; silk; silver threads
Measures
429.5 cm x 266 cm
Acquisition
Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli bequest, 1879
Inventory number
0401
location
Textile storage
collection
Textiles
The heterogeneous textile collection includes important antique Persian carpets, Renaissance tapestries and 180 textiles dating from the 14th to the 18th century. Among them, rare Italian velvets and precious 15th century Lombard altar frontals. Antique Coptic textiles and Lombard and Flemish laces and embroideries, dating from the 18th and the 19th century, were acquired or received as donations.