Psyche in Venus' service; her punishment thumbnail 1
Psyche in Venus' service; her punishment thumbnail 2
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Psyche in Venus' service; her punishment

Tapestry
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.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitlePsyche 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
  • Taken from catalogue height: 363cm
  • Taken from catalogue width: 254cm
  • Estimated (1msq 1.2kg) weight: 11kg
Credit line
Given by Viscountess Harcourt GBE
Subject depicted
Literary referenceApuleius, 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
Collection
Accession number
T.771-1950

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Record createdFebruary 19, 2009
Record URL
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