Camel Riders, presumably from a Wild Man series

Art Institute of Chicago

Camel Riders, presumably from a Wild Man series

Franco-FlemishLinkedCulture matchlcp-83dcbfd1d104

Date
1475-1510
Medium
Wool, slit tapestry weave Warp: Count: 3–4 warps per cm; wool: S-ply of two Z-spun elements; diameters: 1.0–1.2 mm Weft: Count: varies from 10 to 17 wefts per cm; wool: single S-spun elements; diameters: 0.5–1.2 mm
Culture
Flanders
Department
Textiles
Institution
Art Institute of Chicago
Object ID
86331

From the Art Institute of Chicago record

This tapestry includes two merchants dressed as wild men in tunics, riding camel-like animals. The identification of the men as merchants is supported by the merchant’s mark on a bale at the left of the scene. Wild men are mythical creatures believed to have inhabited the woods and mountains of Europe. Depictions of wild men lend themselves to two opposing narratives: uncivilized beasts existing outside society, and peaceful creatures living harmoniously with nature. Contemporary accounts—which reveal a fascination with imaginary creatures—record men and women dressed in wild costume for carnivals, courtly events, and other festivities. Despite the aggressive gestures and hostile manners of the men, this scene may represent a mock joust in which merchant rivalry was harmlessly expressed during an urban feast.

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Open this page QR destination: https://linkedculture.org/q/q1.ZctrPxTu9JusUyQW.Wbo2xwLdLPZC5OwWwIwhw0h4txe9VOcnyY7jLOoDdiRyVGY0tVa7EeHUJoj5g9-8RdnRwWpKunvPzTDqjsdfZHZdhTI-Le2akjU6qlPOcTj06HqqTmM4ZKDTwdeBDksaIVXES5y2Dd6q2_HfOap0XYp5DNiFw6PCNi8UX2JOccGaaIF256E_jGBYjFIpVbMjSH2ex4wcpmutlNu_dkjoAo_0Y77dsbugzdWxodPHE-QXK1UzaTCCN4-3mqbaX85BtKHIvTElJ7VBQP5FHR1c-D9sSee at Art Institute of Chicago QR destination: https://linkedculture.org/q/q1.h0oTyqoFkexiOV1e.UAG58KR-CvvPQ8K5gnM5v3Vs-sDIoNooKZ1VdvrKbYIxjqdMeHPouPN1uaNHq8KB4uR1WZ2GpXMtxoSxvhCOMjsJWVIfb3dhDNr6ZY5EZrs6Uya8JQwT_z0dCxH4z0rrJgi5VDbUNcSoIF4xpPbgKFvSesaKygvokjln7icpYmmuDc5rhMxvHgFslzI8qeHETlHa0HpzeKlV6-CLqBu9jGTM7jlUIewWCNF4EIM7r0-ObM0dEttEXeWxhV3UjJqpgwZ_GQkB-5AZOyR1WNxkSA
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Provenance & credit

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Credit line
Robert Allerton Fund
Provenance
Demotte, Inc., New York, by 1927 [incoming receipt, R3534, Nov. 30, 1927; copy in curatorial object file]; sold to the Art Institute, 1929

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Object type
AAT300014063

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