Art Institute of Chicago
The Diversion of the Euphrates from The Story of Cyrus
Adapted from designs by Michiel Coxie (1499–1592)LinkedCulture matchlcp-d2d9962e4e24
- Date
- c. 1670
- Medium
- Wool and silk, slit and single interlocking tapestry weave Warp: Count: 8 warps per cm; wool: S-ply of three Z-spun elements; diameters: 0.6–1.0 mm Weft: Count: varies from 19 to 44 wefts per cm; wool: S-ply of two Z-spun elements; diameters: 0.3–1.5 mm; silk: pairs of S-ply of two Z-twisted elements; diameters: 0.15–0.5 mm
- Culture
- Brussels
- Department
- Textiles
- Institution
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Object ID
- 27849
From the Art Institute of Chicago record
The Latin inscriptions in the center of the upper border of this and the neighboring tapestry make clear that they illustrate the story of Cyrus the Great, ruler of the Medes and the Persians. Here he oversees the laborious work of diverting the Euphrates River, a tactic that would permit his troops to approach the city of Babylon and conquer it. These tapestries were woven from cartoons that adapted designs by the 16th-century court artist Michiel Coxie. Their rich borders, filled with garlands and putti as well as military trophies, are in a later Baroque style, while the poses of the ruler and his advisors take on a somewhat stereotypical aspect.
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Provenance & credit
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- Credit line
- Gift of Honoré Palmer
- Provenance
- Potter Palmer (1826-1902; also Potter Palmer, Sr.) and Bertha Palmer (1849-1919; born Bertha Honoré; also Mrs. Potter Palmer), Chicago, by 1900 [this and the following according to Brosens 2008, 166]; by descent to their son, Honoré Palmer (1874-1964), Chicago and Sarasota, FL [incoming receipt R6716; Nov. 25, 1938; copy in curatorial object file]; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1938.
Linked open data
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- Object type
- AAT300014063
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