Tapestry: A Fragment of a Tapestry with Male and Female Figures

This fragment shows two male and two female figures in rich costumes standing in front of an oak tree. Stylistically, it can be identified as Brussels work of the early 16th century. The complexity of the execution and decoration relate it to tapestries from the famous series of Le Roman de la Rose, woven in one of the best workshops in Brussels. The lower part of the figures has been severed and a landscape unfolds above them, indicating that this is a fragment from the upper part of a much larger tapestry. The small size does not allow us to identify the subject but the faces are very individualized and suggest that these may be portraits of real people. The bearded man, for instance, shown from behind but turning to look at the viewer, has the Hapsburg profile - the profile typical of representatives of the Hapsburg family. A piece of border sewn to the lower edge is made up of rose brier flowers, stems with peapods and pomegranates, as was typical of Brussels tapestries of the time.