Psyche in Venus' service; her punishment
Tapestry
1555-1565 (designed)
1555-1565 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This tapestry probably belonged to a set of sixteen, though some are now untraceable. The subject is Psyche's punishment, from the story of Cupid and Psyche, as related by the Latin author Lucius Apuleius in the Golden Ass. The story was a favourite pictorial theme during the Renaissance.
The beautiful mortal Psyche is shown imploring for help from the goddess Juno. In the background she is being dragged before Venus, who is scheming for vengeance because her son Cupid has fallen in love with Psyche.
The beautiful mortal Psyche is shown imploring for help from the goddess Juno. In the background she is being dragged before Venus, who is scheming for vengeance because her son Cupid has fallen in love with Psyche.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Psyche in Venus' service; her punishment (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Tapestry woven in wool and silk |
| Brief description | Tapestry, Tapestry woven in wool and silk, by Giovanni Battista Castello, 1555-1565 |
| Physical description | Wool and silk on wool warp. 18-20 warps to the inch. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Viscountess Harcourt GBE |
| Subject depicted | |
| Literary reference | Apuleius, The Golden Ass |
| Summary | This tapestry probably belonged to a set of sixteen, though some are now untraceable. The subject is Psyche's punishment, from the story of Cupid and Psyche, as related by the Latin author Lucius Apuleius in the Golden Ass. The story was a favourite pictorial theme during the Renaissance. The beautiful mortal Psyche is shown imploring for help from the goddess Juno. In the background she is being dragged before Venus, who is scheming for vengeance because her son Cupid has fallen in love with Psyche. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.771-1950 |
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| Record created | February 19, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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