Description

Reference No.: 78J/ 2732

Origin: Flanders - Brussels

Period: 16th century

Origin: Private Collection

Composition: Wool and silk

Dimension: 2.70 L x 2.10 H

Tapestry series, Gideon's story

Six tapestries from the Story of Gideon series are on display in two adjacent rooms of the Albarracín Diocesan Museum, itself located in the former episcopal palace next to the cathedral.

It is probably the last of the seven existing tapestries, and may be the last of the series as a whole, since it represents the last episode in Gideon's History. The panel shows the Israelites giving Gideon the loot they had obtained from their conquered enemies. The arrangement of the characters in a fertile setting.

Gideon refuses to rule the Israelites

After gaining victory over the Midianites and their allies, the Sons of Israel asked Gideon to rule them and even to establish his own dynasty: "Reign over us - you, your son and your grandson... Reign over us - you, your son and your grandson - because you saved us from the hand of Midian" (Judges 8:22-27.) Gideon refused, believing that "only the Lord will rule over you". However, he wanted a reward for leading them to victory, and asked "that each of you give me a ring from you for the spoils. Because it was the custom of the rings are handed over

All the Israelites accepted the request and "laid out a garment, and each of them threw a ring of his spoils on it. The weight of the gold rings he asked for reached seventeen hundred shekels, not to mention the ornaments, pendants and purple clothes worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on the necks of their camels. "This is the moment described in the tapestry: Gideon laid out the garment, which is surrounded by four children, and the gold coins are placed there. In biblical history, we are told that in total they came to no less than one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold. At that time, a shekel was a coin weighing between ten and fifteen grams, which would suggest about two hundred kilograms of gold just in rings. s Ismaelites to wear gold rings."

References:

M. Mora, "Tapices de Albarracín", Revistas de Archivos, Bibliotecas y Museos, Vol. IX (1905), pp. 97-107.

C. Rábanos Faci, Los tapices en Aragón, Zaragoza, 1978.

A. Almagro Gorbea and E. Arce Oliva, Palacio episcopal de Albarracín, Zaragoza, 2011.

Series Story of Gideon

odls Attributed to Maerten van Heemskerck

Manufacture Frans Geubels, Brussels, third quarter of the sixteenth century

Our house assures you the sale of a tapestry with invoice and approved expertise, well cleaned, in good condition with its fixing system. If necessary, we will inform you of the work that has been done. All our tapestries can be presented to you at your home in France and neighbouring countries before your final decision.