Artemisia was the queen of ancient Halicarnassus in Asia Minor. This action-packed battle scene illustrates the military training of her son, Lygdamis.* The vivid colors, rearing horses, and muscular soldiers emphasize the vigor of the maneuvers. Troops converge on a tower from both land and sea while, in the far distance, ladies of the court watch archery practice from another ruined tower.
The French king Henry IV (1589-1610) commissioned this tapestry to symbolize his own military strength. He used works of art to glorify his court and to stimulate the French economy after years of political turmoil. He was especially interested in tapestry--the most prestigious and expensive of the visual arts--because French weavers were losing many commissions to Flemish workshops. He even subsidized master weavers in Paris--at times giving them free lodging and work space--and recruited others to move from Flanders to France.
*This tapestry is one of a set of eight tapestries which depict the stories of Queen Artemisia. Other tapestries from this set are on view in Galleries 340 and 330.
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<P>Artemisia was the queen of ancient Halicarnassus in Asia Minor. This action-packed battle scene illustrates the military training of her son, Lygdamis.* The vivid colors, rearing horses, and muscular soldiers emphasize the vigor of the maneuvers. Troops converge on a tower from both land and sea while, in the far distance, ladies of the court watch archery practice from another ruined tower.</P><P>The French king Henry IV (1589-1610) commissioned this tapestry to symbolize his own military strength. He used works of art to glorify his court and to stimulate the French economy after years of political turmoil. He was especially interested in tapestry--the most prestigious and expensive of the visual arts--because French weavers were losing many commissions to Flemish workshops. He even subsidized master weavers in Paris--at times giving them free lodging and work space--and recruited others to move from Flanders to France.</P><P>*This tapestry is one of a set of eight tapestries which depict the stories of Queen Artemisia. Other tapestries from this set are on view in Galleries 340 and 330.</P>
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