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Amours des Dieux. Apollo et Clytie: T.1-1949

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An image of Tapestry
An image of Tapestry
Current Location: Gallery 17 staircase

Titles

Amours des Dieux. Apollo et Clytie
Translated as: Loves of the Gods. Apollo and Clytie

Maker(s)

Factory: Beauvais factory

Entities

Categories

Description

Tapestry from the "Loves of the Gods" series illustrating the classical myth of apollo and Clytie

Apollo and Clytie are the central characters to this composition. Apollo ascends on clouds, loosening his embrace of Clytie, before her abandonment and transformation into the sunflowers seen at the lower left-hand corner. Below, in the right-hand corner, two nymphs watch the unfolding scene or play musical instruments, while a stream flows from overturned urns. Above two putti hover in front of, or rest on, an ethereal arch. To the left of the arch horses approach pulling the chariot of their master the sun god Apollo. One horse hooks left towards Apollo, anticipating the closing scene as he rides away bringing nightfall. A woven imitation of a carved and gilded frame borders the pictorial space. It is surmounted by the Royal arms of France and Navarre.

The tapestry is woven in wook and silk on woolen warps.

Notes

History note: Sold at Sotheby's, 25th February 1949, Lot. 157 (Sir Bernard Eckstein sale) to Messrs F. Partridge & Sons

Legal notes

Purchased by the Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum with the aid of a grant from the Marlay Fund.

Measurements and weight

Height: 11 ft
Width: 9.11 ft

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bought (1949-03-02)

Dating

18th Century, Mid
Circa 1756 CE - Circa 1761 CE

Note

After Boucher and attributed to Charlemagne Charron who succeeded to the dictatorship of the Beauvais factory in 1755.

The bottom galloon edge of the tapestry is a replacement.

People, subjects and objects depicted

Materials used in production

upper two thirds of the tapistry are made up almost entirely of silk weft. Silk
Wool

Techniques used in production

Weaving

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: T.1-1949
Primary reference Number: 110534

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 22 May 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Amours des Dieux. Apollo et Clytie" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110534 Accessed: 2025-12-05 08:23:56

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110534 |title=Amours des Dieux. Apollo et Clytie |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 08:23:56|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Amours des Dieux. Apollo et Clytie</figcaption>
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