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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1959.211
People
Unidentified Artist
Title
Narcissus Gazing at his Reflection
Classification
Textile Arts
Work Type
textile
Date
second half 17th century
Places
Creation Place: Europe, Belgium, Oudenaarde
Culture
Flemish
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/214755

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Textile fibers
Dimensions
292.1 x 136.53 cm (115 x 53 3/4 in.)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Abbott Lawrence Lowell, bequst; to Fogg Art Museum, 1959

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Bequest of A. Lawrence Lowell
Accession Year
1959
Object Number
1959.211
Division
European and American Art
Contact
am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Tapestry fragment with a mythological scene depicting Narcissus gazing at his reflection. This tapestry, possibly a door hanging, was originally part of a larger series representing stories from Ovid's Metamorphoses. It represents Narcissus gazing at his reflection (Met. 3:339-510). The composition is closely related Virgil Solis's woodcut illustration, which appeared in the Metamorphoses Ovidii of 1563 (Frankfurt: Feyerabend). Solis's woodcuts were frequently reused in later editions and served as an important source for artists working in other media, including Peter Paul Rubens. The limited palette and the landscape features suggest that the tapestry was produced in Oudenaarde. Based on the figure types, the tapestry can be dated to the second half of the 17th century. The top and bottom border consist of flower garlands and a cartouche containing a landscape view. The left and right sides show a narrow ornamental design.

Related Works

Verification Level

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