Perseus Rescues Andromeda
Unknown Artist
ca. 1515–25
Medium
Wool warp; wool and silk wefts
Dimensions
Overall: 132 x 125in. (335.3 x 317.5cm)
Classification
Textiles-Tapestries
Culture
South Netherlandish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Adele L. Lehman, in memory of Arthur Lehman, 1965
Accession Number
65.181.16
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *Perseus Rescues Andromeda*, a magnificent South Netherlandish tapestry woven around 1515–25. This large-scale work (132 x 125 inches) captures the dramatic classical myth from Ovid's *Metamorphoses*, where the hero Perseus slays a sea dragon to save the chained princess Andromeda. Vivid figures of men, women, swords, and the monstrous dragon fill the scene, evoking heroism and peril against a richly detailed backdrop typical of Renaissance-era weaving. Crafted with a wool warp and luxurious wool-and-silk wefts, the tapestry showcases the technical mastery of South Netherlandish worksh...