Presentation of the Keys to a City

Artists

Description

This tapestry was woven and possibly designed by Francois Tons whose weaver's mark consisting of an F, S, T and a 4 appears on the selvage. This is one of the four known works that survive from Tons' Brussels period. The tapestry shows a surrender scene. On the left side, a victorious army general, holding a baton and wearing a laurel crown, is seated on a throne placed on a platform. He is surrounded by Roman soldiers holding spears. His opponent kneels in front of him and offers him a set of keys. This suggests that the kneeling army general is giving up the keys of his city in defeat. The background offers a view of a battlefield set in a landscape. Documents show that Tons produced several series dedicated to stories from ancient history, including a history of Scipio and a history of Troy. The original borders consist of flower arrangements and female virtues.

Dimensions

350.5 x 393.7 cm (138 x 155 in.)

Provenance

Duc d'Avaray, Paris; his collection sale, American Art Association, January 22-23, 1915; private collection, California; Parke-Bernet, New York, January 28-29, 1949, lot 237. Label on the back records that it was lent by: George von L. Meyer, Alice Meyer Coffin, Julia Meyer Brombilla.