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Lot Essay
Although official records at the Royal Gobelins Manufactory were meticulously kept, this tapestry panel is not listed. During the late 17th and early 18th century the heads of workshops, in this case Jean Lefebvre, were allowed to produce their own tapestry series, such as the Gobelins set depicting Flora previously in the collection of Mme Craven and now at the Louvre (also by Jean Lefebvre), for private clients due to the financial difficulties of the state and consequent lack of official commissions.
In each auction sale this tapestry was accompanied by another panel depicting Aeneas being introduced to Dido.
Mr. William Butterworth (d. 1936) was both president and chairman of Deere & Company, the tractor business, after marrying Katherine Deere in 1892. This tapestry hung in their main residence in Moline, Ill.
Mr. Marcel Bich (d. 1994) was an industrialist in Paris who bought a factory with Eduard Buffard in 1945 to manufacture fountain pens. In 1950 he bought the patent for ballpoint pens and his company survives until today as Société Bic.
Both tapestries were offered at Sotheby's, New York, on 22 May 2001 as lots 106 - 107, with provenances as reputedly having belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte in St. Helena and subsequently being in a private collection in Inverness, Scotland from 1902 - 1960s. The French & Co records refute that provenance.
In each auction sale this tapestry was accompanied by another panel depicting Aeneas being introduced to Dido.
Mr. William Butterworth (d. 1936) was both president and chairman of Deere & Company, the tractor business, after marrying Katherine Deere in 1892. This tapestry hung in their main residence in Moline, Ill.
Mr. Marcel Bich (d. 1994) was an industrialist in Paris who bought a factory with Eduard Buffard in 1945 to manufacture fountain pens. In 1950 he bought the patent for ballpoint pens and his company survives until today as Société Bic.
Both tapestries were offered at Sotheby's, New York, on 22 May 2001 as lots 106 - 107, with provenances as reputedly having belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte in St. Helena and subsequently being in a private collection in Inverness, Scotland from 1902 - 1960s. The French & Co records refute that provenance.