Wikipedia

The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra


The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra is an amalgamation of fourteen tapestries put together by the Art Institute of Chicago from three separate tapestry series in their collection. The original tapestry series' were the Story of Caesar Augustus, the Story of Cleopatra, sometimes referred to as the Story of Cleopatra and Antony, and the Story of Zenobia and Aurelian, all designed by Justus van Egmont in the 17th century. The tapestries were made in the Flemish High Baroque style.[1] They were produced by some of the leading weaving workshops of the time and were commercially successful.[2]

Sketch for the Zenobia Surrounded by Soldiers tapestry by Justus van Egmont, c. 1664.

Justus van Egmont edit

 
Sketch for The Marriage of Zenobia and Odenatus tapestry by Justus van Egmont, c. 1664.

Justus van Egmont designed all the tapestries in the series. He was primarily a painter born in Leiden in 1601.[citation needed] He trained in Antwerp under Gasper van der Hoecke. He then worked under Antony van Dyck, before moving to the workshop of Peter Paul Rubens. While in Ruben's workshop van Egmont assisted with the Life of Marie de' Medici.[3]

In 1628 he became a master of the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke. Later that year he moved to Paris where he became a portrait painter for the House of Orleans.[4] In 1648 he helped to found the Académie de peinture et de sculpture.[5]

It was after returning to Antwerp around 1650 that he began to work on his own tapestry designs for the Van Leefdael-Van der Strecken-Peemans association.[1][2]

Original Tapestry Series edit

The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra consists of fourteen tapestry designs taken from three different tapestry series:

The Story of Caesar, designed by van Egmont between 1651 and March 1659. Eight designs have been attributed to this series. Caesar was one of the Nine Worthies; historical figures who embodied the ideals of chivalry.[6] Caesar was also the subject of several popular plays including Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, published in 1623. Given the popularity of the subject, it was not a risk to create a tapestry series based on Caesar's life.[1]

The Story of Cleopatra (also sometimes referred to as the Story of Cleopatra and Antony), designed between 1649 and 1651 after van Egmont's return from France. The series has nine designs linked to it, identified by their inscriptions. They were most likely commissioned by Jan van Leefdael and Gerard van der Streekan, and all the tapestries bear their, or their successors, signatures. Cleopatra was a common tapestry subject as the Life of Antony in Plutarch's Parallel Lives had been translated and popularized in the 16th century.[1]

The Story of Zenobia and Aurelian, designed from 1664 to 1665. There are eight designs linked to this series, commissioned by the workshop of Gerard Peemans. Zenobia was the queen of Palmyra and claimed to be descended from Cleopatra and Mark Antony. She went on a campaign of conquest but was defeated by Aurelian, a Roman emperor. Zenobia was a well liked historical figure in the 17th century, and was the subject of several popular books. Multiple tapestry series telling her story were produced in Brussels and Antwerp.[1]

The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra tapestries edit

Many of the tapestries in the original series were repeated compositions, with different captions to designate them as different scenes.[1] The tapestries were commissioned and produced by several of the leading weaving workshops of the time, such as the[7] Van Leefdael-Van der Strecken-Peemans association. The series were commercially successfully, as evidenced by the multiple editions that were produced.[2]

The subject matter of the tapestries demonstrates the interest in female historical figures during the 17th century. The tapestries were designed in the Flemish High Baroque style. They display signature characteristics of the style such as expressive facial expressions, monumental figures, and dramatic poses.[1] Some of the borders on the tapestries are also identical to the borders in Peter Paul Ruben's tapestry series The Story of Constantine. [8]

Tapestry Workshop Description
 
Clodius Disguised as a Woman
 Workshop of Gerard Peemans

Brussels, c. 1680

Clodius disguised himself as a female flute player to gain access to Caesar's wife, Pompeia, who he desired.[9]

 
Caesar in the Gallic Wars
 Workshop of Willem van Leefdael

Brussels, c. 1680

A battle from Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul is pictured.

 
Caesar Defeats the Troops of Pompey
 Workshop of Gerard Peemans

Brussels, c. 1680

This scene is most likely meant to portray the battle of Pharsalus, which was the decisive victory in Caesar's civil war with Pompey.

 
Caesar Sends a Messenger to Cleopatra
 Workshop of Willem van Leefdael

Brussels, c. 1680

After Pompey flees to Egypt, Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII, who was fighting a civil war with his sister Cleopatra, has Pompey killed. This offends Caesar who then seeks an alliance with Cleopatra. Here she is receiving his first messenger, beginning their love affair.[10] This design is also sometimes labeled as Cleopatra Asked to Pay Tribute to Rome.[8]

 
Cleopatra Asked to Pay Tribute to Rome
 Workshop of Gerard Peemans

Brussels, c. 1680

No event like the scene described was ever recorded, it is possible that the title was given to a design from a different series in order to expand The Story of Cleopatra.[8]

 
Discovery of the Plot to Kill Caesar and Cleopatra.
 Workshop of Gerard Peemans

Brussels, c. 1680

Supporters of Cleopatra's late brother, Pharoh Ptolemy XIII, plot to kill Caesar and Cleopatra. However, Caesar's barber discovers the plan and the assailants are caught.[1]

 
Caesar Embarks by Boat to Join His Army
 Workshop of Gerard Peemans

Brussels, c. 1680

This is a scene from during the Egyptian Civil War. After the attempt on Caesar's and Cleopatra's lives, they find themselves pursued by the Egyptian army and Caesar flees by boat.[11]

 
Caesar Throws Himself into the Sea
 Workshop of Willem van Leefdael

Brussels, c. 1680

While they are fleeing from Alexandria Caesar's boat becomes overrun with enemies but he manages to escape by jumping into the sea and swimming to land.[12]

 
Caesar and Cleopatra Enjoying Themselves
 Workshop of Gerard Peemans

Brussels, c. 1680

This seems to be another tapestry where the description does not match the design. It may be a design from a different series.[1]

 
The Triumph of Caesar
 Workshop of Gerard Peemans

Brussels, c. 1680

This scene shows Caesar celebrating his triumph after his African campaign.[8]

 
Caesar's Death Makes Cleopatra Mourn
 Workshop of Gerard Peemans

Brussels, c. 1680

This design was used for both Caesar's Death Makes Cleopatra Mourn and The Death of Cleopatra. In the Death of Cleopatra, a snake is wrapped around her right arm. In this scene Cleopatra mourns after hearing the news of Caesar's death.[8]

 
Cleopatra Enjoys Herself at Sea
 Workshop of Willem van Leefdael

Brussels, c. 1680

This tapestry is part of the design for another tapestry The Meeting of Cleopatra and Antony. In the full design, Antony is shown riding a horse to the left of the boat. In this scene Cleopatra can still be seen gazing towards where he would be.[8]

 
Cleopatra and Antony Enjoying Supper
 Workshop of Gerard Peemans

Brussels, c. 1680

Sometimes titled Cleopatra Dissolving a Pearl.[8] This scene depicts a lavish dinner that Cleopatra threw to impress Marc Antony. At the end of the meal, Cleopatra dropped a pearl into a cup of vinegar and drank it.[13]

 
The Battle of Actium
 Workshop of Willem van Leefdael

Brussels, c. 1680

This scene depicts the Battle of Actium, which was the final battle between Marc Antony and Octavius. After his defeat, Antony committed suicide rather than be captured.[14]

[1][8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bertrand, Pascal-François (2008). European tapestries in the Art Institute of Chicago. Yale University Press. OCLC 901157876.
  2. ^ a b c Campbell, Thomas P., ed. (2007). Tapestry in the Baroque : threads of splendor. Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN 9781588392299. OCLC 452560556.
  3. ^ Valkeneers, Prisca (2014). "Justus van Egmont at the Rubenshuis". The Rubenianum Quarterly. 2: 3–4.
  4. ^ Brosens, Koenraad; Kelchtermans, Leen; van der Stighelen, Katlijne, eds. (2012). Family ties : art production and kinship patterns in the early modern Low Countries. Brepols. ISBN 9782503542270. OCLC 780485113.
  5. ^ Valkeneers, Prisca (2012-03-14). "Van timmermanszoon tot schilder aan het hof. De adellijke ambities van Justus van Egmont". De Zeventiende Eeuw. 27 (2): 270. doi:10.18352/dze.1552. ISSN 2212-7402.
  6. ^ Delmarcel, Guy (1999). Flemish tapestry : from the 15th to the 18th century. Lannoo Publishers. ISBN 902093886X. OCLC 977514885.
  7. ^ Büttner, Nils (2010). Eine neu entdeckte Zeichnung von Justus van Egmont. Universität Heidelberg. OCLC 796188858.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Edith A. Standen (2000). European post-medieval tapestries and related hangings in the metropolitan. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300086032. OCLC 712778539.
  9. ^ Cohick, Lynn (2014). Women in the World of the Earliest Christians : Illuminating Ancient Ways of Life. Baker Academic. ISBN 9781441247230. OCLC 922967424.
  10. ^ "Caesar Sends a Messenger to Cleopatra from The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra". The Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  11. ^ "Caesar Embarks by Boat to Join His Army from The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra". The Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  12. ^ Plutarch (1906–1907). Plutarch's Lives. Swan Sonnenschein. OCLC 612396036.
  13. ^ "Cleopatra and Antony Enjoying Supper, from The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra". The Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  14. ^ "The Battle of Actium from The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra". The Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
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