Jan Leyniers II (active from 1630 to 1686) was a member of one of the leading and oldest dynasties of Brussels tapestry makers, whose activity dates back to the 16th century and continued well into the second half of the 18th century. The family were renowned not only as weavers but also renowned as dyers, to such an extent that by 1700 they held a virtual monopoly on dyeing in the city of Brussels.[1]
Jan’s father was the celebrated weaver Evrard III Leyniers, who, from 1636, collaborated with some of the most prominent tapestry makers in Brussels, such as van Leedaeel, van der Strecken, and Henri I Reydams. Jan was granted the freedom of the city of Brussels in 1661[2] and, as his son (also named Jan) would later do, partnered with other weavers to produce certain tapestry series. In 1671, Leyniers worked with Jan Aerts, with whom he shared the designs for “The History of the First Parents.” Later, between 1678 and 1684, he partnered with van Leefdael for the tapestry series “The History of Saint Paul” and several series of heraldic wall hangings and tapestries. One of these, commissioned by the Counts of Fuensalida, is the hanging now owned by the Banco de España. The design of this and others in the series is based on a pattern very similar to one he made slightly earlier for the Arembert family, from cartoons by David Teniers III.
Leyniers continued to collaborate with other weavers. In 1681, he joined forces with Albert Auwecx to produce a series on Julius Caesar, and it is also known that he had a hand in the manufacture of assorted other series with the Brussels weaver Geraert Peemans.
Jan Leyniers specialized in following French models, especially those by Charles Le Brun (1619–1690). The Leyniers family owned Le Brun’s designs for the “History of Meleager and Atalanta,” according to the diplomat and merchant Jean Valdor.[3] Their workshop produced several series of “Meleager,” including those held in Stockholm (Sweden), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Chichester (UK), the Art Institute of Chicago (USA), and Spain (a piece in the Fundación Casa Ducal de Medinaceli collection). It is believed that the director of the Gobelins Manufactory himself owned a series of the “History of Meleager” signed by Leyniers and it is known that another series – featuring gold and silver threads – belonged to the Duke of Orleans. Other series on classical or medieval themes on which Leyniers worked include a “History of Cleopatra” and a “History of Clovis.”
Numerous pieces produced by his workshop are preserved today. Jan’s mark appears on series as noteworthy as the “History of the Life of Moses” (Vienna, Austria; and the Palazzo Clerici, Milan, Italy) and several editions of the “History of Alexander”,[4] based on designs by Jacob Jordaens (examples in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, USA; Palazzo Chigi, Rome, Italy; and Catedral de la Almudena, Madrid, Spain, among others). His workshop also produced the series “The Liberal Arts,” which was formerly part of the Bauer collection and is currently held in the Banco Santander collection.
Jan Leyniers II (active from 1630 to 1686) was a member of one of the leading and oldest dynasties of Brussels tapestry makers, whose activity dates back to the 16th century and continued well into the second half of the 18th century. The family were renowned not only as weavers but also renowned as dyers, to such an extent that by 1700 they held a virtual monopoly on dyeing in the city of Brussels.[1]
Jan’s father was the celebrated weaver Evrard III Leyniers, who, from 1636, collaborated with some of the most prominent tapestry makers in Brussels, such as van Leedaeel, van der Strecken, and Henri I Reydams. Jan was granted the freedom of the city of Brussels in 1661[2] and, as his son (also named Jan) would later do, partnered with other weavers to produce certain tapestry series. In 1671, Leyniers worked with Jan Aerts, with whom he shared the designs for “The History of the First Parents.” Later, between 1678 and 1684, he partnered with van Leefdael for the tapestry series “The History of Saint Paul” and several series of heraldic wall hangings and tapestries. One of these, commissioned by the Counts of Fuensalida, is the hanging now owned by the Banco de España. The design of this and others in the series is based on a pattern very similar to one he made slightly earlier for the Arembert family, from cartoons by David Teniers III.
Leyniers continued to collaborate with other weavers. In 1681, he joined forces with Albert Auwecx to produce a series on Julius Caesar, and it is also known that he had a hand in the manufacture of assorted other series with the Brussels weaver Geraert Peemans.
Jan Leyniers specialized in following French models, especially those by Charles Le Brun (1619–1690). The Leyniers family owned Le Brun’s designs for the “History of Meleager and Atalanta,” according to the diplomat and merchant Jean Valdor.[3] Their workshop produced several series of “Meleager,” including those held in Stockholm (Sweden), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Chichester (UK), the Art Institute of Chicago (USA), and Spain (a piece in the Fundación Casa Ducal de Medinaceli collection). It is believed that the director of the Gobelins Manufactory himself owned a series of the “History of Meleager” signed by Leyniers and it is known that another series – featuring gold and silver threads – belonged to the Duke of Orleans. Other series on classical or medieval themes on which Leyniers worked include a “History of Cleopatra” and a “History of Clovis.”
Numerous pieces produced by his workshop are preserved today. Jan’s mark appears on series as noteworthy as the “History of the Life of Moses” (Vienna, Austria; and the Palazzo Clerici, Milan, Italy) and several editions of the “History of Alexander”,[4] based on designs by Jacob Jordaens (examples in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, USA; Palazzo Chigi, Rome, Italy; and Catedral de la Almudena, Madrid, Spain, among others). His workshop also produced the series “The Liberal Arts,” which was formerly part of the Bauer collection and is currently held in the Banco Santander collection.