ATELIERS DE LA MANUFACTURE DES FLANDRES - BRUSSELS - from th - Lot 192

ATELIERS DE LA MANUFACTURE DES FLANDRES - BRUSSELS - from the late 16th century The last King of Jerusalem Baudouin IV , during the siege of Kerak in 1183. Important wool and silk tapestry. Height 365 cm. Width : 265 cm. Maintenance restorations, remarkable freshness of colors. Good condition Saladin's forces lay siege to the Kerak of Moab held by the crusaders of the Kingdom of Jerusalem under the command of Renaud de Châtillon. Saladin withdrew his troops after the intervention of Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. We note the presence of King Baldwin IV, with his nephew by his side: Baudouinet (who succeeded him on his uncle's death in 1185 and succeeded him under the regency of Raymond III of Tripoli), Saladin in the center and Renaud de Châtillon on the right. The borders are exceptional (the same borders can be found on the Noah story hanging by Philip II of Spain, in the Madrid collections). Animal symbolism : - Lion: Courage, strength, royalty, symbol of Christ - Swan/goose: Purity, love, loyalty, associated with ancient heroes - Monkey: Human vanity, grotesque imitation (found in Flemish borders) - Stag: Spiritual rebirth, quest for God - Rabbit/rabbit: Fertility - Pisces: aquatic life, abundance and Christian symbolism (fish: Christ) - Birds in flight: element of ascent, link between earth and sky