Tapestry fragment from 'The Triumph of Eternity over Time', woven in wool, probably made in Tournai, ca. 1510-1520

This fragmentary tapestry survives from a set comprising six tapestries based on the poem I Trionfi (The Triumphs), written by the Italian poet Petrach between 1352 and 1374.

In the Triumphs, Petrarch sets out in allegorical form the philosophical and moral values which are held by him. This long poem may have been inspired by the death of Laura, to whom Petrarch dedicated many poems. It still bears many traces of the rhetoric characteristic of the Middle Ages, but it had wide-spread repercussions. From the 14th to 16th century, the theme of the poem was illustrated in numerous works of art and much was added that was not in Petrarch’s text.

Petrarch describes how man is endowed with both reason and emotion. In his youth he indulges in the sensual pleasures of Love, but soon reason gains the upper hand and Chastity triumphs over Love. Then comes Death, which takes away man’s life and separates the body from the soul, and so triumphs from the Chastity. However, since worthy deeds never die but live on in the memory of posterity, Fame triumphs over Death. Yet civilizations fall and the glory of the world passes with the years and so Time triumphs over the most resounding Fame. And finally, even Time itself must come to an end and in this was Eternity triumphs over Time, bearing man up into Heaven to fulfil his ultimate destiny of endless beatific existence.
The six Triumphs are, therefore, as follows: The Triumph of Love, the Triumph of Chastity over Love, of Death over Chastity, of Fame over Death, of Time over Fame, of Eternity over Time.

This is a fragment that originates from the left side of a tapestry The Triumph of Eternity over Time. In the centre of the fragment is Saint Gregory and on his left stands Saint Jerome, each with inscriptions. The panel includes the back wheel of the chariot of Eternity, and crushed beneath it are two female figures, Lachesis and Clotho, two of the Fates. On the lower right hand side is the head of another figure. On the left hand side of the panel is a tree bearing fruit and on the right is part of an aureole of clouds with cherubim. At the foot of the panel are scattered flowers. The panel has been edged all round with a later border in brown and orange.

This fragmentary tapestry survives from a set comprising six tapestries based on the poem I Trionfi (The Triumphs), written by the Italian poet Petrach between 1352 and 1374.

In the Triumphs, Petrarch sets out in allegorical form the philosophical and moral values which are held by him. This long poem may have been inspired by the death of Laura, to whom Petrarch dedicated many poems. It still bears many traces of the rhetoric characteristic of the Middle Ages, but it had wide-spread repercussions. From the 14th to 16th century, the theme of the poem was illustrated in numerous works of art and much was added that was not in Petrarch’s text.

Petrarch describes how man is endowed with both reason and emotion. In his youth he indulges in the sensual pleasures of Love, but soon reason gains the upper hand and Chastity triumphs over Love. Then comes Death, which takes away man’s life and separates the body from the soul, and so triumphs from the Chastity. However, since worthy deeds never die but live on in the memory of posterity, Fame triumphs over Death. Yet civilizations fall and the glory of the world passes with the years and so Time triumphs over the most resounding Fame. And finally, even Time itself must come to an end and in this was Eternity triumphs over Time, bearing man up into Heaven to fulfil his ultimate destiny of endless beatific existence.

The six Triumphs are, therefore, as follows: The Triumph of Love, the Triumph of Chastity over Love, of Death over Chastity, of Fame over Death, of Time over Fame, of Eternity over Time.

This is a fragment that originates from the left side of a tapestry The Triumph of Eternity over Time. In the centre of the fragment is Saint Gregory and on his left stands Saint Jerome, each with inscriptions. The panel includes the back wheel of the chariot of Eternity, and crushed beneath it are two female figures, Lachesis and Clotho, two of the Fates. On the lower right hand side is the head of another figure. On the left hand side of the panel is a tree bearing fruit and on the right is part of an aureole of clouds with cherubim. At the foot of the panel are scattered flowers. The panel has been edged all round with a later border in brown and orange.

T.148-1959