Brussels Workshop (c. 1600) - Tapestry - 272 cm - 153 cm - The Triumphant Church

This masterful tapestry stands firmly within the dazzling tradition of Flemish weaving from the late 16th and early 17th centuries—a period when Brussels workshops reached the pinnacle of European prestige by assimilating the Mannerist idiom and glorifying the ideals of the *Ecclesia Triumphans* (Church Triumphant). The piece’s execution represents a masterful textile translation of devotional and allegorical prints conceived by Maerten de Vos and disseminated by Antwerp printing houses. The work of the brothers Hieronymus and Antonie Wierix, as well as that of Crispijn van de Passe I, served as a fundamental compositional source: their engravings provided not only the anatomical monumentality and *contrapposto* pose of the victorious archangel but also the design of the opulent architectural and military border. The panoplies of Roman armor, helmets, drums, and fruit garlands making up the border faithfully reproduce the ornamental frames these renowned engravers used to exalt the decisive victory of the Church—both militant and triumphant—over earthly chaos and heresy.

Technically and interpretatively, the piece bears witness to the extraordinary skill of Brussels weavers in translating the tonal gradations of engravings into the material density of wool and silk, transforming the standard bearing the Cross and the flaming sword into an indisputable proclamation of the *Ecclesia Triumphans*. The firm definition of sculptural folds (*draperie mouillée*), the modeling of the androgynous face, and the nuanced interplay of chiaroscuro on the unfurled banner demonstrate a mastery of the loom characteristic of Flanders' most refined workshops. Although the work fits into an allegorical framework standardized for dogmatic propaganda and export to the princely courts and churches of the Catholic world, its chromatic quality—characterized by the interplay of ochres, cobalt blues, and earth tones—and the seamless integration of the central scene with the border make this tapestry an exceptional testament to how Flemish printmaking was transformed into high-status monumental art in the service of the Counter-Reformation.

- Provenance: Private collection in Madrid.
- Measurements: 272 x 153 cm
- Good condition, with minor wear. Colours look wonderful, with a magnificent display of complex greens and blues.
- Minor restaurations, consistent with age. Completely lined in cotton cloth.

- This piece will be packaged using specialized technical packaging and a high-security shipping process to ensure prompt delivery in optimal condition. Please note that the shipping rates quoted do not include the frame; therefore, please contact us if you would like to receive the tapestry mounted on its original frame instead of folded, so we can coordinate the necessary logistics.