FLEMISH TAPESTRY - FALCON HUNTING
FLEMISH TAPESTRY - FALCON HUNTING | in Paris | Galerie Jabert
FLEMISH TAPESTRY - FALCON HUNTING | in Paris | Galerie Jabert
FLEMISH TAPESTRY - FALCON HUNTING | in Paris | Galerie Jabert
FLEMISH TAPESTRY - FALCON HUNTING | in Paris | Galerie Jabert
In the 7th century falconry was introduced in the regions of Europe conquered by the great invasions, then reached England in the 9th century. It is only in the Middle Ages that the falcon, in France, is tamed to hunt and that falconry, in Europe, develops in all countries.
In Europe, falcon hunting reached its peak during the reign of Louis XIII, and French falconry was the first in the world, but this type of hunting remained the distraction of kings and a sport reserved for the nobility. However, falconry was to go out of fashion because Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI rather practiced hunting by hounds (venery) than hunting by flight (volleying). After the Revolution, the Convention abolished the royal charges of falconry as well as its practice.
In Algeria, Eugène Fromentin continued the tradition of travelling to the East initiated by Eugène Delacroix. Among the themes he treats, falcon hunting has the painter's predilection, hence this "Falcon hunting in Algeria: the priest", his most famous painting at the time. The scene depicts the priest: two horsemen watch their servants tearing the hare they have just killed out of the hawks' talons.
Fromentin's painting, which belongs to the romantic orientalist tradition, gives us a somewhat nostalgic image of the past, especially the medieval one. We find in this work not only the influence of Delacroix but also that of Ingres.
Frederick II of Hohenstaufen (1194-1250) reigned over the Holy Roman Empire from 1220 to 1250 and was in constant conflict with the papacy, which excommunicated him twice. His comprehensive treatise on falconry, whose preface praised experience against theory, consists of six books: the first is a general ornithology of hunting birds and their game birds, the next two describe falcon hunting, and the last three teach hunting with gyrfalcons, sackbirds and peregrines. There is also a version (of 2 books only) translated into French. But the book did not only deal with falconry and also contained a section on the anatomy of 900 species of birds, including a remarkable description of the different wing positions during flight.
The most admirable manuscript, because it is illuminated (the illustrations in the margins are of great beauty), is kept in the Vatican Library, which is quite a feat, given that this book, due to the opinions of Frederick II towards the popes, was indexed by the Church until the 16th century.
FLEMISH TAPESTRY - FALCON HUNTING | in Paris | Galerie Jabert
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In the 7th century falconry was introduced in the regions of Europe conquered by the great invasions, then reached England in the 9th century. It is only in the Middle Ages that the falcon, in France, is tamed to hunt and that falconry, in Europe, develops in all countries.
In Europe, falcon hunting reached its peak during the reign of Louis XIII, and French falconry was the first in the world, but this type of hunting remained the distraction of kings and a sport reserved for the nobility. However, falconry was to go out of fashion because Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI rather practiced hunting by hounds (venery) than hunting by flight (volleying). After the Revolution, the Convention abolished the royal charges of falconry as well as its practice.
In Algeria, Eugène Fromentin continues the tradition of travel to the East initiated by Eugène Delacroix. Among the themes he treats, falcon hunting has the painter's predilection, hence this "Falcon hunting in Algeria: the priest", his most famous painting at the time. The scene depicts the priest: two horsemen watch their servants tearing the hare they have just killed out of the hawks' talons.
