Shepherds and milkmakers, Lille Teniers series

The five tapestries preserved in the room are among the most valuable of the Quirinale. Their subject is some moments of life in the countryside, depicted against the backdrop of vast landscapes. The borders are in tune with the rural subjects, showing a rich repertoire of working instruments, farm animals, vegetables, musical instruments. Some of the five cloths bear the signature of the Flemish tapestry maker Guillaume Werniers, while the tapestry designs were taken from works by the Flemish painter David II Teniers, famous for his paintings depicting episodes of rural life in an idealized version.