Artwork Page for The Death of Dido

Details / Information for The Death of Dido

The Death of Dido

1679
designed by

Giovanni Francesco Romanelli

(Italian, 1610–1662)
woven by

Michael Wauters

(Flemish, 1679)
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Culture
Belgium, 17th century
Medium
tapestry weave: silk and wool
Measurements
Overall: 414 x 466.5 cm (163 x 183 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Francis F. Prentiss, in memory of Dr. Dudley P. Allen 1915.79.8
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
210A Armor Court
Print
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Did You Know?

Depicting the tragic love story of Dido and Aeneas, this tapestry is one of eight gifted to the museum for display in the armor court.

Description

Driven by despair, and to her sister's dismay, Dido throws herself onto a pyre of Aeneas's bed and clothes and pierces herself with his sword. Moved by pity, Jupiter's wife, Juno, sends Iris from heaven to cut a lock of Dido's hair and sacrifice it to the underworld so that Dido may die. Aeneas's fleet sails away in the distance.
A horizontally oriented tapestry depicts people with light skin tones. Central, a woman reclines on textiles while a winged figure in yellow descends from a cloud. Three women in blue, yellow, and red garments surround her, one at our right with a hand raised. At our left, two figures watch from a balcony. Spiraled columns frame the scene, while winged children and ornate motifs fill the borders above and below.

The Death of Dido

1679

Giovanni Francesco Romanelli, Michael Wauters

(Italian, 1610–1662), (Flemish, 1679)
Belgium, 17th century

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