Procession of the Fat Ox from a Teniers Series
1729-1768
After a design by Jan van Orley (Flemish, 1665–1735) Woven at the workshop of Daniel IV Leyniers (Flemish, 1705–1770) Brussels
Brussels
This tapestry depicts peasants and townspeople leading an ox to be butchered for a feast in celebration of Shrove Tuesday (also known as Fat Tuesday), the last day before the start of Lent. A barmaid distributes refreshments outside a tavern named the Sign of the Cross, musicians lead the procession, and people skate and sled on the frozen ice, giving the scene a general atmosphere of revelry and mirth. Genre scenes of rural life were a popular theme for tapestries in 18th-century Europe, emphasizing the rustic charm of country living.
Wool and silk, slit and double interlocking tapestry weave Warp: Count: 6 warps per cm; wool: S-ply of three Z-spun elements; diameter: 0.8 mm Weft: Count: varies from 22 to 48 wefts per cm; wool: S-ply of two Z-spun elements; diameters: 0.5–0.8 mm; silk: pairs of S-ply of two Z-twisted elements; diameters: 0.3–0.8 mm; wool and silk: three yarns, one yarn of S-ply of two Z-spun wool elements and two yarns of S-ply of two Z-twisted silk elements; diameters: 0.6–0.9 mm