The Festival of Psyche, with Bacchus from a set of Mythological Subjects after Giulio Romano
In a gently wooded landscape, mythological figures gather. Together with the contiguous scene in the tapestry the Festival of Psyche with Mercury (53.225.8), the composition broadens to include a glorious credenza display of gilded plate with precious textiles, in a scene traditionally identified as depicting preparations for the wedding feast of Cupid and Psyche.
This tapestry is from a set of eight, traditionally called Les Sujets de la Fable. The designs for all eight tapestries are based in part upon drawings then in Louis XIV's collection- now preserved in the Louvre- which were all, at that time, attributed to Giulio Romano. Four of the tapestries in this series- all of which are part of The Met’s collection- ultimately take as their inspiration frescos by Giulio Romano and his assistants in the Palazzo Te, Mantua. The design source of this tapestry is Giulio’s fresco depicting preparations for Cupid and Psyche’s wedding, painted in the Palazzo’s sala di Psiche.
This tapestry is from a set of eight, traditionally called Les Sujets de la Fable. The designs for all eight tapestries are based in part upon drawings then in Louis XIV's collection- now preserved in the Louvre- which were all, at that time, attributed to Giulio Romano. Four of the tapestries in this series- all of which are part of The Met’s collection- ultimately take as their inspiration frescos by Giulio Romano and his assistants in the Palazzo Te, Mantua. The design source of this tapestry is Giulio’s fresco depicting preparations for Cupid and Psyche’s wedding, painted in the Palazzo’s sala di Psiche.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Festival of Psyche, with Bacchus from a set of Mythological Subjects after Giulio Romano
- Designer: Designed after drawings attributed to Giulio Romano (Italian, Rome 1499?–1546 Mantua)
- Designer: Cartoon painted by Bon Boullogne (French, Paris 1649–1717 Paris)
- Designer: Sketches probably made by Antoine Coypel (French, Paris 1661–1722 Paris)
- Designer: Jean-Baptiste Corneille (French, Paris 1649–1695 Paris)
- Workshop director: Woven under the direction of Jean Jans the Younger (French, 1644–1723) and
- Workshop director: woven under the direction of Jean Lefebvre the Elder (French, active 1662–1700)
- Manufactory: Woven in the Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins (French, established 1662)
- Patron: Commissioned for Louis XIV, King of France (French, Saint-Germain-en-Laye 1638–1715 Versailles)
- Date: designed 1684–86, woven 1689–92
- Culture: French, Paris
- Medium: Wool, silk, metal thread (20-26 warps per inch, 8-12 per cm.)
- Dimensions: 12 ft. × 16 ft. 7 in. (365.8 × 505.5 cm)
- Classification: Textiles-Tapestries
- Credit Line: Gift of Julia A. Berwind, 1953
- Object Number: 53.225.9
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
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Giulio Romano
n.d.
Giulio Romano
early 16th century
Giulio Romano
1550–1650
Giulio Romano
Philips Galle
Giulio Romano
ca. 1530–46
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