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Cyrus Defeats Spargapises, from The Story of Cyrus

A work made of wool and silk, slit and double interlocking tapestry weave.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of wool and silk, slit and double interlocking tapestry weave.

Date:

c. 1670

Artist:

Adapted from designs by Michiel Coxie (1499–1592)
Woven at the workshop of Albert Auwercx (1629–1709)
Flanders, Brussels

About this artwork

This tapestry is from a late-17th-century series derived from the earlier compositions of the Renaissance painter and designer Michiel Coxie. The Latin inscription in a cartouche in the upper border identified the subject as Cyrus the Great defeating the Scythians. This refers to an episode toward the end of Cyrus’s extraordinary career when he attacked the land ruled by Queen Tomyris near the Caspian Sea. As recounted by Greek historians such as Herodotus, the Persian ruler lured the queen’s son Spargapises into a trap, defeating him and taking him captive. However, Tomyris was so angered by her son’s humiliation and subsequent suicide that she defeated Cyrus in battle and killed him.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Textiles

Artist

Michiel Coxcie, I

Title

Cyrus Defeats Spargapises, from The Story of Cyrus

Place

Flanders (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1660–1680

Medium

Wool and silk, slit and double interlocking tapestry weave

Dimensions

384.8 × 412.1 cm (151 1/2 × 162 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Honoré Palmer

Reference Number

1938.1312

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/151988/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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