Search engine for discovering works of Art, research articles, and books related to Art and Culture
ShareThis
Javascript must be enabled to continue!

Presentation of the Keys to a City

View through Harvard Museums
This tapestry was woven and possibly designed by Francois Tons whose weaver's mark consisting of an F, S, T and a 4 appears on the selvage. This is one of the four known works that survive from Tons' Brussels period. The tapestry shows a surrender scene. On the left side, a victorious army general, holding a baton and wearing a laurel crown, is seated on a throne placed on a platform. He is surrounded by Roman soldiers holding spears. His opponent kneels in front of him and offers him a set of keys. This suggests that the kneeling army general is giving up the keys of his city in defeat. The background offers a view of a battlefield set in a landscape. Documents show that Tons produced several series dedicated to stories from ancient history, including a history of Scipio and a history of Troy. The original borders consist of flower arrangements and female virtues.
Department of Paintings Sculpture & Decorative Arts Duc d'Avaray Paris; his collection sale American Art Association January 22-23 1915; private collection California; Parke-Bernet New York January 28-29 1949 lot 237. Label on the back records that it was lent by: George von L. Meyer Alice Meyer Coffin Julia Meyer Brombilla. Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum Gift of Mrs. Philip Coffin Madame Julia Brambilla Mrs. E. Calbert Cheston and Mr. Charles A. Meyer
image-zoom
Title: Presentation of the Keys to a City
Description:
This tapestry was woven and possibly designed by Francois Tons whose weaver's mark consisting of an F, S, T and a 4 appears on the selvage.
This is one of the four known works that survive from Tons' Brussels period.
The tapestry shows a surrender scene.
On the left side, a victorious army general, holding a baton and wearing a laurel crown, is seated on a throne placed on a platform.
He is surrounded by Roman soldiers holding spears.
His opponent kneels in front of him and offers him a set of keys.
This suggests that the kneeling army general is giving up the keys of his city in defeat.
The background offers a view of a battlefield set in a landscape.
Documents show that Tons produced several series dedicated to stories from ancient history, including a history of Scipio and a history of Troy.
The original borders consist of flower arrangements and female virtues.

Related Results


Back to Top