FLEMISH TAPESTRY, BRUSSELS, LATE 18TH CENTURY Cm 540X380 The Death of Meleager D'apres charles le brun ; Atelier of Jan Leyniers In good condition A FLEMISH TAPESTRY, BRUSSELS, LATE 17TH CENTURY; GOOD CONDITIONS The scene depicts the hero lying on his bed as he feels his strength waning and is without his shield and weapons, which are placed on a table to the right. On the shield is represented a Fury, with hair in the form of snakes, which is a clear reference to the wickedness and envy that provoked the drama being experienced: one can therefore speak of a myth within a myth. Next to this is a helmet decorated with an animal and feathers, as well as a highly worked and carefully outlined suit of armour. The position of Meleager's body is proposed in a manner very similar to that of traditional iconography, both in terms of the number of people beside him (usually four), and in terms of the relaxation of the body as it gradually loses its strength. Above them is a golden drape enveloping and framing the two figures. To the left, a few warriors and women stand anxiously by, and in particular a doctor approaches to take Meleager's pulse. In front of him, a woman illuminates the central part of the painting with her yellow dress. She is seen from behind, bringing the dying young man something to drink. Further to the left, several figures, still holding their spears, stare intently at Meleager, while a third tries to silence a howling dog in despair, next to a weeping woman with her face in her hands. The background, which for much of the scene consisted of a block of flats, opens to the left with a glimpse of the landscape showing some trees in the foreground and mountains further away. Closing the scene is a table in the foreground above which are placed a few objects of very fine workmanship, together with a golden drape. On the floor below this, thrown to the ground because they are now useless, appear the quiver and bow of Atalanta and the spear of Meleager set against the background of a red drape. Then there are various dogs that also express, with their snouts turned down, or with their bodies crouched, the pain and drama of this moment.