A tapestry, "David och Goliath", tapestry weave, ca 272 x 283-289 cm, Flanders, possibly second half of the 16th century
or later, probably Brussels. From the suite David's stories on Eriksberg in the Ehrenstrahl parlor with full border: where the coat of arms for a Prince-Bishop Julius Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn Würzburg (died 1617) is seen. According to tradition, a booty from the Thirty Years' War in 1631 from Marienburg Castle. A large polychrome battle scene in a lush landscape, in the background there is an army. Two sides with a wide border with architecture, warlords, flower vases, musicians, fruits, flowers and foliage. Wool and silk. Lined.
Reduced, faded. The border is missing at the top and at the bottom. Some wear, dirty, stains, repairs, rewoven areas.
Provenance
Myrö manor, Närke, in the gable cabinet; Another motif from the series David's story: King Saul has his armor brought to David who offers to fight against Goliath, the Ehrenstrahl parlor, Ericsberg's castle. This tapestry has a complete border with arms for Archbishop Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn (18 March 1545 - 9 September 1617) who became Archbishop of Würzburg from 1573. He was born at Mespelbrunn Castle, Spessart (Lower Franconia) and died in Würzburg. The tapestries are traditionally a booty from the Thirty Years' War 1631 from Marienburg Castle.
Exhibitions
Compare with the exhibition "Julius Echter Patron der Künste", 25.06.2017–24.09.2017, Martin von Wagner Museum der Universität Würzburg. About the exhibition: https://www.ernst-von-siemens-kunststiftung.de/ausstellung/julius-echter-patron-der-kuenste.html
Literature
Svenska Slott och Herresäten vid 1900-talets början: Nerike, Stockholm 1911: Myrö, page 12, plate page 17; Slott och Herresäten i Sverige: Närke, Västmanland, Söderberg, Bengt G. with contributions from Nisbeth, Åke, Malmö 1969: Myrö, page 145-146, plate page 148.
Compare with Svenska Slott och Herresäten vid 1900-talets början: Södermanland, Stockholm 1908: Ericsberg, plate page 13, pages 17-18. Böttiger, John: Tapisseries à Figures des XVIe et XVIIe siècles appartenant à des collections privées de la Suède, Stockholm 1928, the text volume No. 25 pages 33-35 and the image volume No. 24; Slott och Herresäten i Sverige: Södermanland I, Söderberg, Bengt G. with contributions from Schnell, Ivar and Särnstedt, Bo, Malmö 1968: Ericsberg, page 128, plate page 127.