The Crusaders Reach Jerusalem (from a set of Scenes from Gerusalemme Liberata)
Designed by Domenico Paradisi (Italian, active 1689–1721)
Manufactured by the San Michele workshop
Pietro Ferloni (Italian, active 1717–70)
designed ca. 1689–93, woven 1732–39
Wool, silk (16-18 warps per inch, 7 per cm.)
Confirmed: 144 in. × 230 in. (365.8 × 584.2 cm) (varying heights: left edge: 143"; center: 144"; right edge: 142")
Bequest of Elizabeth U. Coles, in memory of her son, William F. Coles, 1892
Not on view
The story of Gerusalemme Liberata is based upon Tasso's epic poem of the same name.
As the crusaders reach the city of Jerusalem, two of the Christian leaders kneel in the foreground, both in Classical armor with garments of red, blue and yellow. The younger man is presumably Godfrey of Bouillon. Other mounted men in gray armor are seen behind. Rising in the background on the right are the walls of Jerusalem.
Inscription: Woven in cartouche at top center: C 3 / S 3 / ECCO DA MILLE VOCI / VNITAMENTE / GIERVSALEMME SALVTAR / SI SENTE [trans.: Canto 3, stanza 3. Lo! From a thousand united voices, "Hail Jerusalem!" is heard] (Quotation from Tasso's Gerusalemme Liberata)
Commissioned for Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni (in 1740 inventory) ; Dukes of Hamilton ; possibly acquired in Italy by Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton (ca. 1835–40) ; William Alexander Louis Stephen Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Duke of Hamilton ; [ Hamilton Palace sale, Christie's, London , June 17–July 20, 1882, nos. 1915 ff. ] ; Mr. and Mrs. William F. Coles (until 1892; bequeathed by Mrs. Coles to MMA)