TAPESTRY AT RENISMAW HALL. 21 



tapestry is also from the designs of Le Brun, for the backgrounds 

 and figures are French, and both the composition and the 

 colouring suggest the hand of a great master. The de Vos family 

 had long been established as tapestry weavers at Brussels. In the 

 beginning of the seventeenth century the firms at Brussels 

 included upwards of one hundred masters. As time passed by. 

 the manufacture tended to become concentrated in the hands 

 of a few families, who formed positive dynasties, and amongst 

 these may be cited the family of de Vos. In the eighteenth 

 century (writes Miintz in his History of Tapistry), Josse de Vos, 

 of Brussels, executed a replica of "The Conquest of Tunis," 

 which is now at the Imperial Palace of Schoenbrunn, near 

 Vienna. The original, now at Madrid, was designed by Jan 

 Vermeyen, and executed for Charles V. 



In the Great Drawing Room we have : — 



I. The Triumph of Peace, measuring i8 ft. 4 ins. in length 

 by II ft. gi ins. in height. The central figure in the design 

 represents Peace as a Queen enthroned beneath a canopy 

 awning attached to the branches of a tree. The monarch's 

 left hand is placed upon the model of a temple, beside which 

 lie the emblems of Royalty and Episcopacy, and with her right 

 she extends her sceptre to a figure trampling upon swords, 

 shields, quivers, bows, and other accoutrements of war, near 

 which lie the crowns and sceptres of vanquished foes. Towards 

 this figure she looks, averting her gaze from a triumphal car 

 laden with military trophies which p'asses by on the left side of 

 the throne, the horses being guided by a genius who aims his 

 dart at the Queen. Before the throne lie various scientific 

 and musical instruments, including the celestial and terrestrial 

 spheres, violins, flutes, mandolines, a palette, a bust, a clock, 

 compasses, and books ; and on the right stand three sceptred 

 figures, of whom one imposes her authority on a lion by her 

 side ; intended perhaps to show the effects of peace on the savage 

 and unbridled passions of mankind. On the dexter side, two 

 figures, male and female, are reclining : the former, a river god, 

 crowned with sedges, and resting upon a fountain ; the latter, 



