82

PROPERTY OF VARIOUS OWNERS A BRUSSELS TAPESTRY FRAGMENT AFTER PETER PAUL RUBENS, MID-17TH CENTURY RE

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:20,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
PROPERTY OF VARIOUS OWNERS A BRUSSELS TAPESTRY FRAGMENT AFTER PETER PAUL RUBENS, MID-17TH CENTURY RE
property of various owners A BRUSSELS TAPESTRY fragment After Peter Paul Rubens, mid-17th century Representing part of the mythological episode of Achilles among the daughters of Lycomedes, at the center Ulysses and Nestor in Antique dress, on the sides the borders composed of two caryatids, one as Athena with Antique dress, the other Artemis as a warrior, at their feet an ermine and an owl, the upper section decorated with putti hanging from a garland 1413?4 x 743?4 in. (360 x 190 cm) $20,000-25,000 This episode from the life of Achilles, the son of Peleus, king of Phthia, and Thetis, is incomplete, the reduced tapestry having probably originally shown the daughters of Lycomedes. Thetis knew that her son was fated to die if he went to Troy, and she sent him to the court of Lycomedes on the Aegean island of Scyrus, east of Euboea. He was only nine when Calchas, the seer attatched to the Greek forces, said that Troy could not be taken without the help of the boy. At Thetis’ insistence Lycomedes dressed Achilles as a girl and reared him under the name of Phyrra along with his own daughters. Odysses came with a recruiting party in search of him, and Lycomedes, denying the boy was there, allowed them to search the palace. Ulysses placed on the porch various feminine trinkets together with a spear and shield. While the girls were examining the baubles he had a trumpet blown at a distance as if in warning that the island was being invaded. Achilles instantly stripped off his girls clothes and snatched up the spear and shield. Once discovered, Achilles paid no attention to his mother’s fears and volunteered eagerly for the war, and at 15 was made admiral of the Greek fleet. The ermine symbolizes purity or justice and the female owl, war.