The Orange Gatherers Belgian Tapestry
The Orange Gatherers Belgian chenille tapestry features the work of artist John William Waterhouse and is based on his painting "The Orange Gatherers" done in 1890. The harvest is one of the central themes of history. It not only provides sustenance for a village, but economic prosperity. This scene portrays women collecting oranges in a Mediterranean orange grove. The work is arduous as basket after basket is collected from the orchards just beyond. This work is typical of the love many artists have had for Italy over the centuries. The artist’s distinct sense of color, composition and subject is obvious. The muted palette makes the scene look as arduous as the work was in the orchards. The little girl in the foreground is a symbol that everyone in the village was called upon to help during harvest time.