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The Glorification of Mars, 1717

  • wool (textile), silk (textile)
  • 408 x 555 cm
  • Inv. 1994-F-1

Public Domain

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In 1716, the Viscounty of the Oudburg in Ghent commissioned a series of tapestries devoted to the Exaltation of the Gods. The Viscounty was a fief of the County of Flanders, located within the walls of the Counts’ Castle. Barely a year later, the tapestries were hung in the Castellany. The Oudburg arms appears in the middle of each tapestry. Oudburg College was closed down during the period of French revolutionary occupation and the Viscounty building was demolished. The series ended up in the Museum of Fine Art in 1904, having had several homes in the interim. The first tapestry shows The Exaltation of Mars. The God of War’s triumphal chariot is drawn by two lions – symbols of violent conflict. A cherub rides on one of the lions, holding up a laurel crown on a stick as an emblem of the conqueror. The other lion is led by the winged figure of Fortune, with a wheel – symbol of the inconstancy of fate – under her arm. Soldiers follow the chariot, escorting a procession of prisoners of war and captured booty. Another winged figure, the Spirit of Victory, holds the laurel wreath above Mars’ head, while Fame flies before him, trumpeting his glory. The burning city in the background represents the violence of war – the destroyer of civilisation.

Artist

Urbanus Leyniers RKD
Brussels 1674 - Brussels 1747
workshop / studio

Daniël II Leyniers RKD
Brussels 1669 - Brussels 1728
workshop / studio

Hendrik Reydams
Brussels 1600 - 1669
workshop / studio

Jan van Orley RKD Wikidata
Brussels 1665 - Brussels 1735
cartoons (working drawings)AAT

Aurèle Augustin Coppens
Brussels 1668 - Brussels 1740
cartoons (working drawings)AAT

Title The Glorification of Mars
Date 1717
Period 18th century
Location Brussels TGN
Collection decorative arts (discipline) AAT
Object type tapestries AAT
Inventory number 1994-F-1
Acquisition credit transfer
Stadhuis
Ghent
1994
Permalink https://mskgent.be/collection/work/data/1994-F-1
IIIF Manifest https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/3956/manifest.json
Art & Architecture Thesaurus 300417629 mythologies (religious concept) AAT
Keywords Iconclass 25F animals Iconclass
25F2 mammals Iconclass
25F23(LION) beasts of prey, predatory animals: lion Iconclass
300417629 mythologies (religious concept) AAT
43A421 chariot, triumphal car Iconclass
44G3121 prisoner with hands bound Iconclass
45A10 symbols, allegories of war; 'Guerra' (Ripa) Iconclass
45B51 military parade, pageant Iconclass
45C14(LANCE) helved weapons, polearms (for striking, hacking, thrusting): lance Iconclass
45D313 private soldier Iconclass
46C13141 horse Iconclass
46C144 four-wheeled, animal-drawn vehicle, e.g.: cab, carriage, coach Iconclass
48C73512 clarinet, bassoon, oboe, shawm Iconclass
92 gods ~ classical mythology Iconclass
92B the great gods of Heaven, and their train Iconclass
92B4 (story of) Mars (Ares) Iconclass
92D1916 cupids: 'amores', 'amoretti', 'putti' Iconclass
96A5(FORTUNA) Fortuna as Roman personification Iconclass
School / Style Rococo AAT
'Tapijtwerkers en tapijtwerk te Gent', in: Duizend jaar kunst en cultuur / Erik Duverger. - Gent : [s.n.] : [s.a.] (dl. III, p. 550-557)
'De triomf van Mars, een Brussels wandtapijt in de Koninklijke Musea voor Kunst / Ingrid De Meûter. - Brussel : [s.n.] : [s.a.] (p. 123-137)
200 jaar verzamelen : Collectieboek Museum voor Schone Kunsten Gent / Arnout Balis, Robert Hoozee, Maximiliaan P.J. Martens, Paul Van Haute. - Gent : Ludion, 2000 (p. 110 (ill. 52), 270)
Het Museum voor Schone Kunsten Gent : een keuze uit de mooiste werken / Patrick De Rynck. - Gent : Ludion, 2007 (p. 54-55)
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