Lot Essay
This tapestry forms part of the set of six tapestries representing incidents from the life of Diogenes. This scene shows Diogenes, an extremely austere cynic philosopher of the 4th Century BC, writing on the lintel of a ruined house belonging to a wicked Eunuch. The house is inscribed 'Let nothing evil enter here', to which Diogenes added 'Then which way will the master of the house come in?'. The original full version of the scene shows an extensive ruined landscape to the right. A complete panel is illustrated in H.C. Marillier, English Tapestries of the Eighteenth Century, London, 1930, pl. 15b, while a cut version is illustrated in M. Swain, Tapestries and Textiles at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, London, 1988, p. 15. illustrated. An identical subject, but in reverse, and therefore Soho rather than Mortlake, was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 16 May 1996, lot 214.