Pomona Surprised by Vertumnus and Other Suitors from The Story of Vertumnus and Pomona
1535-1540
Medium
Wool and silk, slit and double interlocking tapestry weave Warp: Count: 7 warps per cm; wool: S-ply of three Z-spun elements; diameters: 0.8–1.0 mm Weft: Count: varies from 18 to 37 wefts per cm; wool: S-ply of two Z-spun elements; pairs of single Z-spun elements; diameters: 0.4–1.4 mm; silk: S-ply of two Z-twisted elements; diameters: 0.4–1.0 mm
Dimensions
493.9 × 430.3 cm (194 1/2 × 169 1/2 in.)
Classification
weaving - tapestry
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
58661
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The young woman kneeling in the foreground, holding a branch with leaves and flowers, is Pomona, the Roman nymph of apples and orchards. The young man shown in profile to her immediate right is Vertumnus, the Proteus-like god who symbolized the passing of the seasons. The tapestry is part of a Story of Vertumnus and Pomona suite that is based on the mythological tale Ovid described in the Metamorphoses. According to the story, Vertumnus was in love with the beautiful Pomona, who was devoted to g...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...