Pallas and Arachne (Primary Title)
Peter Paul Rubens, Flemish, 1577 - 1640 (Artist)
In Greek mythology, the mortal Arachne was widely renowned for her mastery
of the art of weaving. She foolishly challenged the Roman goddess Pallas
Minerva to a weaving contest, and Pallas rose to the challenge with a tapestry
illustrating the dreadful fates suffered by mortals who dared to challenge
the gods. Arachne’s submission presented scenes exposing the destructive
passions and treachery of the gods. The tapestry in the background of this
painting provides a glimpse at one of these scenes: the abduction of the
Phoenician princess Europa by the god Jupiter, who has transformed himself
into a beautiful white bull. Driven by envy, Pallas scrutinized Arachne’s work,
but could not find a single flaw. In the foreground of the painting, the enraged
goddess batters Arachne without mercy, which caused the terrified mortal
to hang herself in despair. The tale ends with Pallas transforming Arachne
into a spider doomed forever to weave pale, silvery webs.
Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
Metapintura. Un Viaje a la idea del arte, Museo del Prado, Madrid, November 15, 2016 - February 19, 2017.
Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863) Paintings and Drawings, Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) Three Oil Sketches, Salander O’Reilly Galleries, Inc., New York, NY, November 15, 1989- January 27, 1990
Le Siècle de Rubens, Royal Museum, Brussels, Belgium, October 15 - December 12, 1965
Esquisses de Rubens, Musees Royaux des Beaux Arts de Belgique, Brussels, Belgium, 1937
L’Art Flamand du XVième siècle, Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels, Belgium, 1934
Rubenstentoonstelling, Goudstikker, Amsterdam, 1933
Rubens Exhibition, Dowdeswell Gallery, London, 1912
L’Exposition d’Art Ancien, Brussels, 1910
Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863) Paintings and Drawings, Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) Three Oil Sketches, Salander O’Reilly Galleries, Inc., New York, NY, November 15, 1989- January 27, 1990
Le Siècle de Rubens, Royal Museum, Brussels, Belgium, October 15 - December 12, 1965
Esquisses de Rubens, Musees Royaux des Beaux Arts de Belgique, Brussels, Belgium, 1937
L’Art Flamand du XVième siècle, Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels, Belgium, 1934
Rubenstentoonstelling, Goudstikker, Amsterdam, 1933
Rubens Exhibition, Dowdeswell Gallery, London, 1912
L’Exposition d’Art Ancien, Brussels, 1910
Collection of the Duke of Infantado. [1] Collection of the Duc de Pastrana, Madrid. Collection of the Duc d'Osuna, Madrid. Collection of Michel van Galder, Uccle. (Newhouse Galleries, New York) by 1958; Purchased by Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), Richmond, Virginia in May of 1958. [2]
[1] Unconfirmed. Art historian Julius S. Held includes collection in the provenance for the object in his catlaogue of oil sketches by Rubens. Held refers to the painting as
"Arachne Punished by Pallas." See Julius S. Held, The Oil Sketches of Peter Paul Rubens: A Critical Catalogue, Volume I (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1980), 258.
[2] Accessioned May 14, 1958.
[1] Unconfirmed. Art historian Julius S. Held includes collection in the provenance for the object in his catlaogue of oil sketches by Rubens. Held refers to the painting as
"Arachne Punished by Pallas." See Julius S. Held, The Oil Sketches of Peter Paul Rubens: A Critical Catalogue, Volume I (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1980), 258.
[2] Accessioned May 14, 1958.
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.