Jl Set of Tapestries by Jjubreuil Xpisodes in the Life ofjdiana ' ■ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/setoftapestriesbOOwana The Dubreuil Tapestries The set consists of the folloiving pieces The birth of Diana and Apollo on the Island of Delos Size — Height, 12 feet 2 inches. Width, 8 feet 3 inches Amyclas and Meliboea, children of Niobe, saved from the arrows of Diana Size — Height, 12 feet 2 inches. Width, 8 feet 7 inches Diana and Jupiter declining Orion’s marriage proposal Size — Height, 11 feet 10 inches. Width, 13 feet 1 inch Diana, deceived by Apollo, causes the death of Orion Size — Height, 12 feet. Width, 10 feet 6 inches Diana and Apollo slaying the children of Niobe Size — Height, 11 feet 8 inches. Width, 16 feet THE PRICE OF THIS SET, $75,000 JOHN WANAMAKER A Set of Tapestries by Dubreuii Episodes in the Life of Diana E have been so fortunate as to receive lately from France a remarkable set of five tapestries, representing the history of Diana. These tapestries were woven after the cartoons of Dubreuii in one of the Paris ateliers which Louis XIV afterwards merged into the manufac- tory known as the Gobelins. Before the Revo- lution these tapestries belonged to the Prefec- ture of Alencon, the mansion belonging to the Intendant of the city. During the Revolution, in order to protect them from confiscation, the Intendant had these tapestries transferred to a chateau in Normandy, where they have since been in the possession of the same family. In order to suppress the original initials or the armorings contained in the cartoons in the center of the top border, a new medallion was woven in after 1793. Hundreds of tapestries which showed pictures of the King or the insignia of royalties were destroyed during the Revolution. Many had the borders cut off or the offending coat- of-arms cut out. The cartouches of this set are now filled with garlands of flowers. The point of the tapestries is exceedingly fine, twenty threads to the inch. The background is subdued, with much of the red and blue so desirable in French tapestries, and in the bor- ders are figures in grisaille which lend an ex- traordinary decorative quality. I The birth of Diana and Apollo on the Island of Delos T HE jealousy of Juno banished beautiful Latona to Delos, a rock in the Aegean Sea. Here Apollo and his twin sister, Diana, were born. These two gods — the god of the Sun and the goddess of the Moon— seem to have centered in themselves the highest ideal of their country. II Amyclas and Meliboea, children of Niobe, saved from the arrows of Diana ACCORDING to Homer, all the children of \ Niobe fell from the arrows of Apollo and Diana, but later writers state that one of her sons, Amyclas, and one of her daughters, Meliboea, were saved. Ill Diana and Jupiter declining Orion’s marriage proposal O RION proposed to Jupiter for the hand of Diana, but the goddess scorned him, and, with Jupiter, refused his proposal. IV Diana, deceived by Apollo, causes the death of Orion RION was the son of Neptune, a hand- some giant and a mighty hunter. His father gave him the power of wading through the depths of the sea. Apollo feared that his sister Diana would fall in love with Orion, whom he greatly disliked, and determined to prevent it at all costs. One day, observing Orion wading through the sea, with his head just above the water, Apollo pointed it out to Diana and maintained that she could not hit the black thing in the sea. The goddess discharged an arrow with fatal aim. The waves rolled the dead body of Orion to the land; and, bewailing her mistake with many tears, Diana placed him among the stars, where he appears as a giant with a girdle, sword, lion’s skin, and club. Sirius, his dog, follows him, and the Pleiades fly before him. V Diana and Apollo slaying the children of Niobe ¥5 N IOBE, the queen of Thebes, was one of the mortals who failed to learn the lesson of humility, and was tragically punished by the gods. Niobe had seven sons and seven daughters, who were the fairest of the land. Niobe boasted of them before the altar of Latona, when the people of Thebes were assembled to pay their vows to the goddess. “What folly,” said she, “is this! Why should Latona be honored with worship, and none be paid to me? I have seven sons and seven daughters. Have I not cause for pride? Will you prefer to me this Latona, with her two children?” Latona was indignant and sent Apollo and Diana to punish the presumptuous mortal. Darting through the air, veiled in clouds, they alighted on the towers of the city. The sons of Niobe, who were in the great plain where the youth of the city pursued their sports, one by one were struck by arrows from above ana fell dead. Niobe’s husband, overwhelmed with the news, destroyed himself. Niobe tried to protect her daughters, but as they stood mourning over their dead brothers they were struck by the gods’ wrath also. At last only one remained, whom the mother clasped and covered with her whole body. “Spare me one! ” she cried, and as she spoke, that one fell dead. Desolate, Niobe changed to stone within and without, and still remains a mass of rock from which a trickling stream flows, the tribute of her never-ending grief. "T The Wanamaker Collection of Tapestries includes, besides the set illustrated in this book, a very fine set of three tapestries made in Aubus- son. Ecclesiastical subjects, signed. PRICE FOR THE SET, $31,500 A pair of Flemish tapestries after Romano’s car- toons, representing children playing at theatri- cals. The borders on this pair are unique, being composed entirely of musical instruments. PRICE FOR THE PAIR, $17,000 Over one hundred tapestries are in the collec- tion, examples of almost every period and weave, Flemish and Aubusson Verdures of the middle of the 18th Century predominating. These range in price from $800 to $8,000. JOHN WANAMAKER NEW YORK John \Janamaker Newlfork