Tall figure taming a dragon Rare and Interesting tapestry from the beginning of the XVIIth century Probably from the Ateliers de la Marche H 300cm x W 237cm Woven in wool and silk Description and iconography On the bank of a river flowing into the sea, a richly dressed figure approaches a pebble (?) with his left hand to the wide open mouth of a dragon. hand towards the wide-open mouth of a dragon. The dragon seems transfixed. The dragon generally symbolises evil, the devil. There are many saints (often bishops from the early days of Christianity or the early Middle Ages), and even female saints, who have tamed the dragon. who tamed and defeated dragons; they are listed in particular in the work by Louis Réau,1958, Iconographie de l'Art Chrétien (Tome III, vol 1,2 and 3), but we have not been able to find this iconography. The confrontations of Saint Michael and Saint George with the devil are much more violent! violent! A wide, beautiful border decorated with flowers au naturel, vases, medallions and grotesques frames the central composition. central composition. Material and condition Woven in wool and silk (wool warp, wool and silk weft), the tapestry has preserved its pleasant colours. The lower border is diminished. The way in which the dragon's tail is cut leads us to believe that its width is also reduced in width. In the centre of the tapestry, there is some shrinkage and small black marks. Expert : Mrs Nicole DE PAZZIS-CHEVALIER