* Fine Oudenaarde tapestry panel - Lot 211

* Fine Oudenaarde tapestry panel Faste à la cour de Nerac in wool and silk, depicting scenes of mind games, banquets, hunting parties, balls at the Château de Nerac, lush vegetation framing the château in perspective and in the background. Late 16th / early 17th century 196 x 267 cm Fairly good overall condition (some wear and natural oxidation) Remarkable finesse Château de Nerac became the residence of 23-year-old Henri de Navarre for almost 6 years (1579-1585). With his wife Queen Margot (Marguerite de Valois (1553-1615), daughter of Henri II and Catherine de Médicis), whom he married on August 18, 1572, he had a veritable court, the Court of Navarre. He became King of Navarre on June 9, 1572, and King of France, under the name Henri IV, on August 2, 1589. The Nerac court held daily balls, concerts, shows and hunts. The court had its poets, like Guillaume de Saluste (seigneur du Bartas, who wrote the first collection of his verses: la muse chréstienne, dedicating them to Margot). Margot had her own musicians: two lute players, one musette player, six violins and three musicians. The King of Navarre hired a farce player, Nicolas Léon, not to mention traveling troupes of Italian comedians such as Massimiano Milanino. Sources: Jean hippolyte Mariejol (La vie de Marguerite de Valois) ; Philippe Lauzun ; Hélène Tierchant ; Christophe de Villeneuve ; Grégory champeaud ; Jean Christian Petifils