TAPESTRIES THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
AN AUBUSSON MYTHOLOGICAL TAPESTRY FRAGMENT

LATE 17TH CENTURY

Details
AN AUBUSSON MYTHOLOGICAL TAPESTRY FRAGMENT
Late 17th Century
Woven in wools and silks, depicting Achilles injured by arrows in the foreground and with Paris looking on, within a wooded landscape and with further soldiers in the distance, to top and bottom with an associated floral and foliate strip, within a later blue outer slip, extensive reweaving and patching
92 in. x 55 in. (234 cm. x 140 cm.)

Lot Essay

Achilles was offered the hand of Polyxena, daughter of Priam, the king of Troy, if in return he would raise the siege of Troy. This deal was, however, a plot to kill him. Achilles went to make a sacrifice to Apollo on Polyxena's request, and while kneeling at the altar, was shot by her brother Paris. Apollo guided the arrow to Achilles heel, his only vulnerable spot. Surprisingly, the scene appears to depict Achilles dying in battle, which is the less depicted version told by Homer.

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