Rider in a Landscape near a Temple

This verdure tapestry shows a wooded landscape with a rider and companion in the center. The foreground consists of lush trees, a river and a wooden fence with a peacock. The background shows a picturesque town set against a panorama of hills rendered in lighter tones. On the right is a meandering river crossed by bridges with travelers. The borders are decorated with flower bouquets on the sides and flower garlands held aloft by winged putti on the top. Verdure tapestries often took the form of entire room ensembles and were mass produced up until the end of the eighteenth century. This example is most likely Oudenaarde and can be dated to the early 17th century.