Homage to Alexander

c. 1620-1625

An early seventeenth century historical tapestry entitled “Homage to Alexander” (woven in Delft, 1619) after a design by and woven at the workshop of Karel van Mander II (Dutch, 1579-1623). It is one of nine allegorical tapestries based on the life of Alexander the Great by van Mander. The wool and silk tapestry is woven in bright colors and depicts the presentation of the daughters of King Darius III of Persia to the victorious Alexander. Alexander stands to the left of center as two nobles bow before him, one of whom hold the leash of a monkey drinking out of a fountain in the foreground. Behind the noblemen are the huddled Persian Princesses. The entire scene is enclosed by a wide border of vines in tones of brown, green, gold, and red, a narrow stylized inner border is inscribed at center “MANDER FECIT ANNO 1619.”

Agents of Cornelius Vanderbilt II acquired the tapestry in 1880 at an auction in Florence, Italy. Prior to Vanderbilt this tapestry formed part of the famed collection of Prince Anatole Demidoff (Russian, 1812-1870). The tapestry was stored at the Vanderbilt’s New York townhouse until moved to Newport and incorporated in the construction of their new summer villa The Breakers. When installed by Jules Allard at the landing of the grand staircase the tapestry’s top and bottom borders were folded under and velvet side panels added to extend the tapestry’s width in order to fit the space of the bracketed wall panel.

Netherlands

wool

silk

silk threads

Gift of Countess Nandine Eltz, 1974.

PSNC.10462