Minneapolis Institute of Art

Exercise in the Assault and Defense of a Bastion

Designer: Central design by Antoine Caron; Cartoonist: Central cartoon by Laurent Guyot; Designer: Border design and cartoon probably by Guillaume Dumée; Designer: and Laurent Guyot; Weaver: Weaving attributed to the workshop of Lucas Wandandalle

Date

designed 1562–65 (woven 1611–27)

Medium

Wool, silk, tapestry weave

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This tapestry uses the story of the classical Queen Artemisia of Caria to allude to the skill and readiness of the armies of the French king Henry IV (1589-1610). Despite the actual location of Caria in Asia Minor, in this tapestry Artemisia's troops use a ruined fortress appropriate to 17th century France as a staging ground for their performance of a mimic war. Mounted archers and swordsmen practice techniques while infantrymen storm the fortress by bridge and moat. The troop's vigorous poses and rearing horses suggest an energetic battle. However the incongruent stances taken by the combatants suggest that they are not practicing tactics against each other, but against imaginary opponents. Europe

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