The History of Hannibal: The Spoils of Cannae

The classical past became fertile ground for Renaissance artists, as this grand tapestry reveals. It celebrates one of the most daring military exploits in ancient history—Hannibal’s near-defeat of Rome during the Second Punic War (218–203 B.C.E.). At center, the general receives the spoils of war after winning a battle. The Latin inscription describes the action: “He leaves those who have been laid low in hard combat to reckon with trembling fingers a treasure of gold." The sheer quality and scale of the tapestry suggest it took a large team of expert weavers to carry out François Geubels’ design. Indeed, the double “B” at the lower left corner proudly announces the workers were from Brussels—then the leading center of European tapestry production.

2014.3.17