DERBYSHIRE TAPESTRY. 



93 



vertical stroke threaded with the letters S and C, the head of the 

 latter thrust into the tail of the former or ^n uppermost letter. 

 During his rule, among many other famous \^ hangings, " The 

 Naked Boys " were woven at Mortlake. 



The tapestry lately in Prince Arthur's room at Haddon, repre- 

 senting a Vintage and Apple-gathering by naked children, is 

 evidently the same as that designated "The Naked Boys" in the 

 Mortlake list. The cartoon is clearly from the hand of Mantegna, 

 and the recent discovery of the Mortlake mark upon these 

 exquisite hangings at Haddon evinces the degree of perfection 

 the works of Mortlake had now attained. We cannot adequately 

 describe the surpassing beauty and delicacy of these examples 

 of the weavers' art. The shading is so subtle that the gradations 

 are hardly perceived ; indeed, the tapestry looks more like the 

 canvas of Mantegna itself than a textile representation of his 

 cartoons. 



The Hangings of the Naked Boys and the History of the 

 Apostles were in the possession of the Rutland family in 

 1670. 



Among the subjects wrought on the looms at Mortlake 

 were — 



" 1662 — Six pieces of rich hangings of Massanissa or rotisk, 

 or antick work, then at Croxton Lodge, belonging to 

 Lord Roos, bought of Mr. Crow, and brought from 

 Burleigh to Belvoir" (Rutland Papers, Hist. MSS. 

 Com. n., 336, 337). 



Acts of the Apostles, from Raphael's cartoons. 



History of Vulcan and Venus, designed by Rivieres. 



Story of Achilles. 



Story of S. Paul. — (Borders designed by Vandyke.) One 

 sheet of this may be seen at Haddon in the Chaplain's 

 Room. 



The Five Senses (in the State Bedroom, Haddon.) 



The Twelve Months, in wool and silk, raised with gold and 

 silver. 



Pilgrims of Emmaus. 



