Gombault and Macé’s marriage, preparing the wedding feast, Brussels XVIth century

This tapestry describes the marriage of the shepherd Gombault to the shepherdess Macé.
The bride arrives, accompanied by her father who has the dowry in his purse. Gombault’s best man holds a very elegant jar filled with wine. Two maids prepare the table while a young boy in charge of the roasts chases a dog. Two musicians are playing Flemish bagpipes and fife and drum. Macé is wearing a beautifully embroidered elegant dress, jewels and a crown. Combault’s coat is preciously woven. He, his best man, and the maids are wearing flowers indicationg their alliance to Gombault’s clan.

This tapestry perhaps describes the wedding of king Charles VIIIth with Anne of Brittany.
An interesting landscape behind the characters details various scenes of country life. The scene is taken from « The life and loves of Macé et Gombault » by the XVth century writer

Henri Baudé, companion, like Philippe du Moulin, of Charles VIIIth.

This famous story was a favorite subject of many tapestry workshops. The whole story is told in a series of 8 tapestries which can be seen at Saint-Lô museum. The wedding is the sixth in the series.