an Brussels mythological tapestry

LATE 17TH EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Details

an Brussels mythological tapestry
Late 17th early 18th Century
Woven in wools and silks, depicting Orpheus in the underworld, with Pluto seated on his throne, his wife Proserpine beside him, and with the nymphs Minthe and Leuce behind them, Orpheus stands before him playing the lyre, the river Styx meanders to the right with Tantalus in the foreground and Charon ferrying the souls of the dead in his bark in the background, and Cerberus guards the opposite shore where the initiated souls collect drinking water from the pool of memory the borders decorated with vases, shells and ribbon-tied floral-trails, the upper and lower borders with spaniels chasing hares amongst spring flowers and scrolls
375cm. high x 435cm. wide

Provenance

Sold anonymously, Christie's London, 25 November 1971, lot 135.

Lot Essay

This tapestry depicts Orpheus in the underworld, seated by the river Styx and playing his lyre to Pluto and his wife Proserpine, who are flanked by the nymphs Minthe and Leuce.
Orpheus had persuaded Pluto to allow Eurydice to follow him back to earth on the condition that he did not look back at her untill they reached the upperworld. But at the last minute he did so and Eurydice vanished into the shades. Losing Eurydice made Orpheus despise women.