The Wayfarer Crowned by Happiness from The Table of Cebes
1550–80
Medium
Wool and silk on canvas (cross-stitch, 48-56 per sq. in., 9 per sq. cm.; tent stitch, 156-190 per sq. in., 30-36 per sq. cm.)
Dimensions
L. 96 x W. 118 inches (243.8 x 299.7 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Anne Archbold, 1969
Accession Number
69.298
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Wayfarer C by Happiness*, a monumental embroidery from the series *The Table of Cebes*, by the German artist David Kandel around 1550–80. This French textile draws from an ancient Greek philosophical dialogue attributed to Cebes of Thebes, a moral allegory life's journey through virtues and vices toward ultimate happiness. Here, a triumphant wayfarer receives a crown, symbolizing enlightenment amid figures of men and women near fountains—evoking themes of renewal and reward that resonated in Renaissance Europe. Crafted in wool and silk on canvas, the work masterfully combines cros...