RF 1956/100. Purchased, Sotheby's, London, 27 June 1969. Four pieces of a set of five were sold in this auction, lots 21-24. Three of these were from the estate of the late Dr. G.H.L.Fitzwilliams, and were acquired by the Clothworkers' Company. The fourth belonged to his nephew John Fitzwilliams; this is the piece which the V&A acquired, having been on loan to the Museum between 1959 and 1969. The fifth tapetry from the set belonged to another member of the Fitzwilliams family. It was given to Madingley Hall, Cambridge, and was subsequently sold at Christies, in 1976, from where it was bought by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, acq. no. 1976.603.
The tapestries were said by Dr Fitzwilliams to have passed by descent through the private collection of the Austrian Royal family, and to have been purchased by him from Emperor Karl of Austria, son of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, when he went into exile after his abdication in 1918. Dr Fitzwilliams had been a medical adviser to the Austrian court.
ecrm:P3_has_note
RF 1956/100. Purchased, Sotheby's, London, 27 June 1969. Four pieces of a set of five were sold in this auction, lots 21-24. Three of these were from the estate of the late Dr. G.H.L.Fitzwilliams, and were acquired by the Clothworkers' Company. The fourth belonged to his nephew John Fitzwilliams; this is the piece which the V&A acquired, having been on loan to the Museum between 1959 and 1969. The fifth tapetry from the set belonged to another member of the Fitzwilliams family. It was given to Madingley Hall, Cambridge, and was subsequently sold at Christies, in 1976, from where it was bought by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, acq. no. 1976.603.
The tapestries were said by Dr Fitzwilliams to have passed by descent through the private collection of the Austrian Royal family, and to have been purchased by him from Emperor Karl of Austria, son of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, when he went into exile after his abdication in 1918. Dr Fitzwilliams had been a medical adviser to the Austrian court.