Panel of fine Aubusson tapestry in wool and silk. Tapestry l - Lot 170

Panel of fine Aubusson tapestry in wool and silk. Tapestry lined, braided and routed. France. Early 19th century. Dimensions : 193 x 233 cm Beautiful polychromy. Remarkable freshness of colors. From the story of Endymion (told in Ovid's Metamorphosis). In Greek mythology, Endymion, King of Elis, is plunged into a deep, eternal sleep by Zeus, at the request of his daughter, Diana, goddess of the hunt and the moon, so that he remains faithful to her love. Endymion is in the center, near the hunting horn, spear and dog of Diana, who can be seen on the right with her knotted hair and blue dress, near a river, surrounded by lush vegetation. This is the story of the first sleeping beauty. Diane is deeply in love with this handsome young man. He's the one, the only, the one she'll love for all eternity. But Endymion is only a man, human and therefore mortal. And the goddess refuses to lose her lover. She wants to spend eternity admiring the perfect face of the young man who makes her immortal heart beat. So every night, the goddess Diana (Selené) comes down to admire her sleeping, ageless lover. Source: Selené and Endymion Sebastiano Ricci (1713) Chiswick House (England) F. Guirand and J.Shmidt (myths and mythology) Expert: Frank Kassapian