The Return from the Hunt

design and cartoon Flemish 16th Century, probably Tournai; woven in Tournai in an undetermined workshop

National Gallery of Art

This is a tapestry of a landscape with castles, trees, and various people and animals. It depicts an outdoor scene where people are dressed in elaborate clothing in shades of red, tan, and dark blue, including long dresses with draping sleeves, tunics with puffed sleeves, and feathered hats and caps. In the background, the landscape is dotted with green trees bearing fruit, and some people are engaging in what appears to be a harvest, using curved gray objects to slice the limbs from bare trees. To the right, a person on horseback looks on, watching them. Closer to us, near the bottom left corner, is a large table with dishes and plates, possibly signifying a feast, surrounded by more people. In the distance there are three buildings with spires and turrets typical of a castle.