The Sacrifice of Polyxena from a set of The Story of Troy
Unknown Artist
probably first half 17th century
Medium
Cotton, embroidered with silk and gilt-paper-wrapped thread, pigment
Dimensions
L. 150 x W. 206 inches (381 x 523.2 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
Chinese, Macao, for export market
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Roderick Terry Jr., 1951
Accession Number
51.152
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold this grand embroidered panel, *The Sacrifice of Polyena* from a set depicting *The Story of Troy now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts. Crafted by an unknown artist in Mac, China, during the first half of the th century, it was designed for the export market, likely adorning European homes or palaces. The scene captures the heart-wrenching moment from the Trojan War saga, where Polyxena daughter of King Priam is sacrificed at Achilles' tomb to appease his ghost—a tale of vengeance and tragedy drawn from classical mythology. Measuring a...