Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15

Loaned by the Metropolis Museum

deck the staircase and courts Of the Cor
coran Gallery-were originally intended as
wall coverings and were carried about
from castle to castle by their princeiy
owners to give color and charm to stately
apartments. They are woven on the
wrong side from cartoons placed either
beneath the warp threads or on the wall
behind the weaver. A separate ''broche'
tsomething between shuttle and bob
bin). is used for each color and tone. and
only short length is woven at one time.
One man can only weave about one
square yard in year. but many can
work upon the same piece, and thus COM
plete a comparatively large field in rea-
sonably short time.
The cost of weaving a square yard today
in the GObelin ateliers with labor at only
$3.50 per annum is estimatedSat from $3.50
to $1,000. 1t takes ten or twelve years
study to learn the art, and. it is said. two
or three generations to produce master
weaver. This will give some slight idea
of the value of tapestries and help to ex-
plain why in the sixteenth century. as
well as TODAY. they were appraised at
more than their weight in gold.
Loaned by Mrs. Roosevelt.
Chief attention will undoubtedly be
directed to the tapestry loaned by Mrs.
of the sculpture hall. and is number
I
was woven in FLANDERS during the seven
teenth century. and is quaint and inter-
esting in design. Nysa. a young woman
of charm. is apparently being given in
marriage. somewhat unwillingly. to Mop
sus. an elderly man of wealth. for though
the bride has extended her right hand. she
has hidden her left in her cuff. and an in
sc-iption from Virgils VIII Eclogue on
the upper portion of the tapestry reads as
follows:
/Nysa is given in marriage to Mopsa /,
Griftins now shall mate with horses. and
In the succeeding age the timorous doe
shall come to drink with dogs. Begin
with me. my flute. Mcmillan strains
Neopsus. cut fresh nuptiaI torches, for a
wife Is on the point of being brought
home
This tapestry is the personal property
of Mrs: Roosevelt. but it has hung for
some time over the mantel in the state
dining room at the White HOUSE.
In the same north court are also to be
seen the two tapestries from the Coles
collection which have been loaned by
the Metropolitan Museum through the
courtesy of the director. Sir G.. Purdon
Clarke. These represent the meeting of
Anthony and Cleopatra at the river Cyd-
nus. and Cleopatra q ssolving a pearl In
honor of Anthony. They are signed by
Jean van Leefdalc. a celebrated Flemish,
weaver of the seventeenth century. and
are splendid specimens in almost perfect
condition.
Procession Of David.
Another Flemish piece of Importance is
the "Triumphal Procession of David"
which is loaned by Mr. Charles NJ
Ffoulke. and has been given the central
position on the west wall Of the staircase.
This is a magnificent work produced in
Flanders in the latter part of the fif-
teenth century before the master weavers
formed the habit Of Placing their mono
grams in the gallons of their tapestries.
1t gives evidence of having been trans
lated from a German cartoon by a weav-
er who had at some time come under
Italian influence. 1t was included at one
time in the renowned Barberini collection
and in 1894 was shown In the great exhi-
bition of tapestries held at Brussels. It's