Quentin Matsys Fence with Heraldic Animals

This is a detail of Quentin Matsys (1456/1466–1530), the Virgin Enthroned in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin. It shows a paling fence with polygonal posts. There is a bottom rail on the ground, a top rail, and a rail above the half-way point. The top rail seems to be made with a rail and capping to protect the palings. A hedge-like growth reaches to the middle rail. There is a little garden bed running along the bottom and a cake-stand topiarised tree.

matsys_fence_0659_smalljThe top of the posts have interesting heraldic animals that look like bear supporting shields and flags. These are like the heraldic beasts in the little reconstructed garden in the side courtyard at Hampton Court.

matsys_fence_0659_dxo_detail_bears_small

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