Fine tapestry end of XVIIth, beginning of XVIIIth,... Lot 31

Fine tapestry end of XVIIth, beginning of XVIIIth, from the workshops of the Manufactures Royales de Bruxelles "The Goddess Artemis and the loves of Cephalus and Procris Technical characteristics : Wool and silk. Restorations of maintenance. Remarkable finesse. Beautiful polychromy. Beautiful freshness of colors Dimensions : Height : 285cm ; Width : 325cm This panel belongs to a suite of hangings with the story of the Loves of Cephalus and Procris. Here, the panel has for register the moment when the goddess Artemis / Daine having welcomed in Crete, the young Procris, she offered him a dog and a magic javelin, the young woman returns. The rural themes were very often interpreted in all the workshops of France and Flanders. Indeed, this type of tapestry panel was very popular at that time. A beautiful border reproducing flowers enhances this tapestry. The Myth : Cephalus, a Thessalian prince, son of Deion and Diomede had married Procris, one of the daughters of Erechtheus, king of Athens. She was a remarkable beauty. He inspired a strong passion in Eos (Dawn); she, in order to detach him from Procris, urged him to test the fidelity of his wife. To this end, he went to her, hidden under a disguise: having succeeded in seducing her, he drove her from his presence. Procris, ashamed, fled to Crete where Artemis gave her a dog and a magic javelin. Later Procris returned to her home as an attractive young girl who offered herself to Cephalus in exchange for the goddess' gifts. Cephalus accepted and Procris was then recognized. The two spouses were reconciled. However, jealousy gripped the heart of Procris, who thought that her husband was joining Eos on his hunting trips. One night, she followed him in secret. By mistake she stirred up a branch. Thinking that a game was hiding behind the foliage, Cephalus threw his javelin and pierced the body of his beloved Procris; in despair over this death, he killed himself with the same javelin. According to another version, the Areopagus banished him for this murder. He withdrew to the island, which took the name of Cephalonia from him, and haunted by the ghost of his beloved, he finally threw himself into the sea.