chapter 444

8/21/2016

Conservation

always wanted to be a conservationist

I enjoy being a conservator. One who conserves, preserves, repairs or restores historical or art works. Therefore, I loved conserving this framed tapestry. OK, I'm basically just painting by numbers on cloth, but enjoyable just the same. Actually I'm really altering the natural dye process of this textile weaving. I'm modifying the originality not restoring and some might call it blasphemy but I don't care (unless I just ruined a priceless original, but I still don't care).  It probably started it's life in somewhat muted colors mimicking the style of the period. Come to find out some period tapestries were painted as well back in the middle ages. Sunlight surely has also had an effect of bleaching out the color saturation. This came from the Coxsackie Antique Center after a breakfast meeting with old friend.  A nice 2 foot by 3 foot size was only $18 after the 20% "special sale discount". As I told the proprietor most of the extensive stock of offerings were priced 10 times higher than what I thought they were worth but this one was priced right for me.

Much enjoyment figuring out what was the subject of this scene. Long story short (history is horrible) I believe these are 1630's Dutch low ranking civic militiamen on break at a tavern. Produced in Belgium, historically famous for fine tapestries although I presume this one to be a simple modern piece. I believe it's an homage to the famed Dutch Golden Age artist Frans Hals who not only was a member of the local guard but was also a portrait artist.

Figured I couldn't hurt it's value so I bought a cheap $6 set of Chinese acrylic paints in tubes. Mixed by eye to simulate the original color and applied just a light coat to make more vivid the main characters the black background and some of the other details. Clean up with water, very easy to use. Will probably apply spray can varnish to preserve the whole thing in a week.

My scene intrigues me. The fashions, the time and place. The composition. The central focus of characters but also the extra details of the dog, the chickens, etc. The one above was Made in Belgium ( jacquard automated weave ) found via Pinterest from HildaMatila2 Etsy sales account. She wants to sell her tapestry for $40. There is an obvious similarity in subject and style. Has to be from the same artist and company (not found).

Another Belgian tapestry w/ Cavaliers from an on-line estate sale (6 foot for $14 great deal except + shipping costs $50, interesting site).

The Officers of the St Adrian Militia Company in 1633 by Dutch artist Frans Hals. The Haarlem militia near Amsterdam adopted patron Saint names.[banquet interpretation]   The center character is a representative of those in my tapestry.  Dutch Republic flag on left (orange white blue). Halberds pointy spear weapons. Spontoons wide spears. Includes flag of blue rot company. Dutch rapier sword.

Officers and Sergeants of the St. George Civic Guard 1639 by (Frans Hals). Enlisted men wore short waisted leather buff jacket jerkin and a broad sash (designating membership in a Blue Company) also popular among soldiers. Higher level executive officers in black. Frans Hals served for 10 years in this guard unit and was an established portrait artist. 

The Dutch Republic had been a collection of many provinces 1581 - 1795. As the Netherlands fractured into north and south along political and religious lines in the late 1500s, the civic guards battled heroically to win the north's independence from Spain. The Low Countries included present day Belgium.

Dutch Revolt (80 Years War) 1568-1648 gained independence from the Catholic Church Spain in the Habsburg Monarchy of the Holy Roman Empire. 

In the circle of life you might just go round and round. Sometimes it's fun to just go on a tangent.

Frans Hals at the Metropolitan Museum of Art 2 hr video if you can stand it.

Journal of Historians of Netherlandish Art

Frans Hals and Pieter Codde, Company of Captain Reinier Reael and Lieutenant Cornelis Michielsz Blaeuw,known as the Meagre Company, 1639. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, link to beautiful group portrait of civic guard

1600 - 1650 Western European fashion key to fashion details, wide reticella lace collar and cuffs

slashed doublet shirt, Van Dyke pointed mustache and goatee, rounded musketeer or cavalier hat with plumage ostrich, 1600 bronze,   guardsman by Belgian artist Madou , Cavalier style began English Civil War 1640 ,  early part of Baroque Period 1650-1800  

The MET timeline of art history, Dutch Baroque Protestant style

Dutch Republic

Until the 16th century, the Low Countries – corresponding roughly to the present-day Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg – consisted of a number of duchies, counties, and Prince-bishoprics, almost all of which were under the supremacy of the Holy Roman Empire, with the exception of the county of Flanders, which was under the Kingdom of France.

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