The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 18, 2024

Cupid disguised as Aeneas's son, presents gifts to Dido

Cupid disguised as Aeneas's son, presents gifts to Dido

1679
(Italian, 1610–1662)
(Flemish, 1679)
Belgium, 17th century
tapestry weave: silk and wool
Overall: 418.8 x 634.6 cm (164 7/8 x 249 13/16 in.)
Gift of Mrs. Francis F. Prentiss, in memory of Dr. Dudley P. Allen 1915.79.2
Location: 210A Armor Court

Did You Know?

This tapestry is one from a series of eight that depicts the tragic love story of Dido and Aeneas. They were gifted to the museum for display in the armor court.

Description

Achates, with spear in hand, presents Cupid, who is disguised as Aeneas's son, to Queen Dido. He offers her gifts to encourage her to love Aeneas who is seated at her side. Attendants are preparing a banquet that Dido is giving in honor of Aeneas and his companions.
  • before 1695-1899
    Barberini Family, Rome, Italy
    1899-1915
    Charles M. Ffoulke (1849-1909), Washington, D.C.
    1909-before 1915
    Mitchell Samuels of French & Company (1880-1959), New York, NY, sold to Mrs. Francis F. Prentiss
    1915-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • W. M. M. "Gothic Art." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 6, no. 4 (1919): 67-70. Mentioned: p. 70 www.jstor.org
    BREMER-DAVID, CHARISSA. "French & Company and American Collections of Tapestries, 1907-1959." Studies in the Decorative Arts 11, no. 1 (2003): 38-68. 40663064
    Catterson, Lynn. Florence, Berlin and Beyond : Late Nineteenth-Century Art Markets and Their Social Networks.
    Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2020. Mentioned: p. 159; Reproduced: p. 161, fig. 5.3
  • Tapestry Restoration 2. Gaspard De Wit/Koninklijke Manufactuur van Wandtapijten n.v (January 21, 1999-September 7, 2000).
  • {{cite web|title=Cupid disguised as Aeneas's son, presents gifts to Dido|url=false|author=Giovanni Francesco Romanelli, Michael Wauters|year=1679|access-date=18 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1915.79.2