A Flemish Biblical New Testament tapestry, Brussels, workshop of Jan Permentiers (1655-1680), after Nicholaas Marten Fierlants second half 17th century

from 'The Acts of the Apostles', depicting 'The story of Philip and the baptism of the Ethiopian' (Acts 8: 26-39), woven with the baptism of the man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority in the court of Queen Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, travelling to Jerusalem to worship and being baptised by Philip the Evangelist, within a four-sided scrolling acanthus and floral border, the original brown selvedge woven with the Brussels town mark, and the weaver's name Ian.Permentiers

This tapestry is lined and has Velcro across the top edge for hanging purposes. There is some oxidisation to dark areas, commensurate with dye and age, still visible for example to dark hair of some of figures and in outer selvedge. As a result there is some repair/reweaving to the browns, for example browns of saddle/harness and collars and necklines, and to some of dark outlines. There are some minor areas of weaknesses and repairs in areas to silks, such as to light areas of clothing. For example there is an area of distressed silk in the sky in the centre of the tapestry. Sky is generally discoloured, commensurate with age. Faces are generally in good condition, there is a tiny later repaired highlight to eye of Christ, for definition. There are small areas of rewoven repair in areas, such as blue right hand sleeve of figure of Christ, which has been very well executed. The outer brown selvedge, with the weaver's and town marks is original. The inner bands of dark brown are original and the banded lighter inner border on the right is professionally rewoven. There is a repaired horizontal line in the centre of the lower border (old fold damage). Specialist Comment: Very unusual to find signed tapestries by this maker. Striking tapestry with very decorative border.
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For a comparable weaving from the series 'The Acts of the Apostles', of the same subject as the offered lot, and attributed to the workshop of Permentiers, see Sotheby's, Aalholm Slot, Nysted, Denmark, 20-23 May 1996, lot 835, (approximately 354 by 312cm), within a four-sided border, without any town or weaver's marks as the lower border is associated.