The Triumph of Chastity over Love
- Object:
- Place of origin:
Brussels (city), Belgium (made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Tapestry with wool warp and weft and a few silk wefts
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Download image
This tapestry is from a series of six based on the poem I Trionfi (The Triumphs), written by the Italian poet Petrach between 1352 and 1374. The poem described a series of allegorical visions, and this scene represents the Triumph of Chastity over Love. On the left, Chastity, riding a unicorn, topples Love (Cupid) from his chariot. In the centre, Cupid, now bound, sits at the feet of Chastity in her triumphal car.
The Humanist theme, secular yet improving, was popular in King Henry VIII's court, and used as the subject for many types of decorative art as well as tapestries. This tapestry may have belonged to the King, or to Cardinal Wolsey.
Physical description
Tapestry woven with approx 6-7 warps per cm.
Place of Origin
Brussels (city), Belgium (made)
Date
ca. 1507-1510 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Tapestry with wool warp and weft and a few silk wefts
Dimensions
Weight: 71 kg, Height: 444.3 cm left edge, Height: 436 cm centre, Height: 444 cm right edge, Width: 822 cm top edge, Width: 820.5 cm bottom edge
Object history note
Probably owned by Cardinal Wolsey or Henry VIII.
Bought from E Lowengard, Paris.
Descriptive line
Tapestry, The triumph of chastity over love, 1507-1510, Brussels
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Thomas P Campbell, Henry VIII and the Art of Majesty : Tapestries at the Tudor court, Yale University Press, 2007, pp.149-155
Exhibition History
Gothic: Art for England 1400-1547 (Victoria and Albert Museum 09/10/2003-18/01/2004)
Henry VIII, Man and Monarch (British Library 01/01/2004-06/09/2009)
Labels and date
The Triumph of Chastity over Love
Dated 1507 and 1510
This comes from a set of six tapestries showing the Triumph of Petrarch. On the left, Chastity, riding a unicorn, topples Love (Cupid) from his chariot. In the centre, Cupid, now bound sits at the feet of Chastity in her triumphal car. This Humanist theme, secular yet improving, was popular in Henry VIII's court.
Tapestry, with wool warp and weft, and a few silk wefts
Made in Brussels
Probably owned by Cardinal Wolsey or Henry VIII
V&A: 440-1883
Cat. 6 [2003]
Materials
Silk; Wool
Techniques
Tapestry
Subjects depicted
Cupid; Love; Chastity
Categories
Textiles; Tapestry; Wall coverings
Collection code
T&F
