c. 1710

Wall Hanging

This embroidered textile is part of a set of horizontal and vertical wall panels that likely framed architectural or decorative elements in a room of an Italian palazzo. The rondels feature classical and mythological stories that may have told a progressive narrative once installed. The left rondel illustrates Narcissus being punished for his pride by Nemesis, the goddess of retribution. He pines for the love of his reflection, eventually turning into the yellow narcissus flower seen at his feet. The figures on the right rondel may be Psyche, Cupid’s lover, accompanied by Cupid’s mother, Venus, and Charon, the ferryman of the underworld. Cupid watches from above as Psyche journeys to the underworld to complete a series of tests from Venus, who disapproved of Psyche.