Set of Ovid's Metamorphoses

1704–31

Set of Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1704–31. Gobelins Manufactory (France, Paris, est. 1662). Tapestry weave; average: 327.7 x 322.6 cm (129 x 127 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Matthias Plum 1956.325 Each tapestry illustrates a scene from Metamorphoses, written by the ancient Roman poet Ovid. The poem is comprised of fifteen books and contains more than 250 myths. These tapestries were produced in Paris by the royal Gobelins Manufactory during the 1700s. Gobelins was founded in 1662 for the purpose of furnishing French royal homes with the highest quality textiles. Gold and silver thread and silk were woven together to create luxurious tapestries like these. During the French Revolution, Gobelins tapestries were sometimes disassembled to harvest the gold threads.