Arria and Paetus
Tapestry
ca. 1801-1812 (woven)
ca. 1801-1812 (woven)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In Republican France in the early 19th century this subject was chosen for weaving at the Gobelins Tapestry Manufactory because of its high moral message. Paetus, a Roman imprisoned for leading an unsuccessful rebellion against the Emperor Claudius, was shown how to die with honour by his wife, Arria, who stabbed herself.
The subject was taken from a painting of 1785 by François-André Vincent (1746-1816). It was woven at the Gobelins in Paris some time between 1801 and 1809, with the border added in 1811-1812. Two tapestries were made of the subject. One was given by the French Emperor Napoleon I to his brother, Jerome, King of Westphalia, whose son gave the tapestry to the South Kensington Museum, as the Victoria & Albert Museum was then called.
The subject was taken from a painting of 1785 by François-André Vincent (1746-1816). It was woven at the Gobelins in Paris some time between 1801 and 1809, with the border added in 1811-1812. Two tapestries were made of the subject. One was given by the French Emperor Napoleon I to his brother, Jerome, King of Westphalia, whose son gave the tapestry to the South Kensington Museum, as the Victoria & Albert Museum was then called.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Arria and Paetus (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Tapestry woven in wool and silk |
| Brief description | Tapestry showing Arria and Paetus, after a painting of 1785 by F.-A. Vincent; woven at the Gobelins in Paris, ca. 1801-1812. |
| Physical description | Tapestry in wool and silk, depicting Arria and Paetus |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by the Prince Napoleon |
| Object history | Napoleon I gave this tapestry to his brother, Jerome, King of Westphalia, whose son gave the tapestry to the South Kensington Museum, as the Victoria & Albert Museum was called in 1857. |
| Historical context | In Republican France this subject was chosen for weaving at the Gobelins because of its high moral character: Paetus, imprisoned for leading an unsuccessful rebellion against the Emperor Claudius, was shown how to die with honour by his wife, Arria, who stabbed herself.Two tapestries were woven of the subject. |
| Production | After a painting of 1785 by François-André Vincent (1746-1816); woven at the Gobelins in Paris 1801-1805 or 1805-1809 (border added 1811-1812), under workshop manager Michel Henri Cozette. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | In Republican France in the early 19th century this subject was chosen for weaving at the Gobelins Tapestry Manufactory because of its high moral message. Paetus, a Roman imprisoned for leading an unsuccessful rebellion against the Emperor Claudius, was shown how to die with honour by his wife, Arria, who stabbed herself. The subject was taken from a painting of 1785 by François-André Vincent (1746-1816). It was woven at the Gobelins in Paris some time between 1801 and 1809, with the border added in 1811-1812. Two tapestries were made of the subject. One was given by the French Emperor Napoleon I to his brother, Jerome, King of Westphalia, whose son gave the tapestry to the South Kensington Museum, as the Victoria & Albert Museum was then called. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 6733-1857 |
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| Record created | May 19, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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