Lot Essay
This tapestry was part of a set of eight tapestries of the History of Caesar at North Mymms purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan from the Marchese Serra. The sale catalogue stated that Marillier compared this set to a similar set in Vienna bearing the weaver's mark of Franz or Leo van der Hecke
The weaver's mark is apparently unrecorded but may be AVH, possibly the mark of Antoine van den Hecke (died 1689). However, stylistically the tapestry appears to date from the second half of the 16th Century. A tapestry, from this same series, with identical border, depicting Mark Anthony wrapped in a Victor's cloak, is in the Spanish Royal Collection and is thought to date from circa 1560. The latter panel is identical to lot 505 in the North Mymms sale.
The weaver's mark is apparently unrecorded but may be AVH, possibly the mark of Antoine van den Hecke (died 1689). However, stylistically the tapestry appears to date from the second half of the 16th Century. A tapestry, from this same series, with identical border, depicting Mark Anthony wrapped in a Victor's cloak, is in the Spanish Royal Collection and is thought to date from circa 1560. The latter panel is identical to lot 505 in the North Mymms sale.