Singleton, Esther: Dutch and Flemish furniture (New York: McClure, Phillips & Co, 1907)

The Renaissance
of these were made in Flanders, although a few lords-
the D'Estes and Sforzas, for example—had looms of
their own, worked by Flemings.
Subjects from mythology, the Scriptures and martyr-
ology are still popular, but scenes from the old romances
of chivalry are banished. Valiant princes and prosperous
cities make use of the weaver's art to commemorate
their victories and triumphs, and many gorgeous sets
depicting current events are hung in mansions, villas, and
town halls. Antwerp, for example, orders The Course
of the Scheldt for her Town Hall. Flanders also makes
such pieces as The Hunts of Maximilian, Battle of
Pavia, Victories of the Duke of Alva, Destruction of the
Armada, The Deliverance of Leyden in 1574, The Defeat
of the Spaniards by the Zealanders, Genealogy of the
Princes of Nassau, etc.
Brussels produced the famous set of ten, The Acts of
the Apostles, ordered by Leo X in 1515. The cartoons,
for which Raphael received 100 ducats each (£200),
were sent to Peter van Aelst, the most noted tapestry-
worker in Flanders. The Pope paid him 15,000 gold
ducats (£30,000) for the set. Peter van Aelst was varlet
de chambre and weaver to Philippe le Beau, in 1504,
and later to his son, Charles V. Bernard van Orley,
a pupil of Raphael, was associated with him in the
production of The Acts of the Apostles, which were hung
in the Sistine Chapel, December 26, 1519. In 1549,
Vasari wrote of them : " One is astonished at the sight
of this series; its execution is marvellous. One can
hardly imagine how it was possible, with simple threads,
to produce such delicacy in the hair and beards, and to
75