A BRUSSELS MYTHOLOGICAL TAPESTRY PANEL

SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY

Details

A BRUSSELS MYTHOLOGICAL TAPESTRY PANEL
Second half 16th Century
Woven in wools and silks, depicting the three daughters of Cecrops discovering Erichthonius in a basket, within a landscape with a river beyond and a hilly background, the top and bottom with a foliate scrolling band and within a later cream and blue outer slip, minor reweaving and patching, previously part of a larger tapestry
2 ft. 6 in. x 2 ft. 5 in. (76 cm. x 74 cm.)

Lot Essay

Vulcan, in a clumsy attempt to ravish Minerva, accidentally let his semen spill over the ground and thus fertilised Mother Earth who gave birth to Erichthonius. Minerva shut the infant in a basket and entrusted it to the three daughters of Cecrops, King of Attica, but forbade them to look inside. Overcome by curiosity one looked inside and discovered that the infant had a serpent's tale for legs. The three daughters threw themselves from the Acropolis in fear. Erichthonius was then raised by Minerva and later became King of Athens.

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