Helios Commands the Hours to Harness the Swift Steeds

Artist Workshop of Jan Leyniers (Flemish, 1630 - 1686)

Date1665-1685

MediumTapestry with wool and silk

DimensionsOverall: 162 1/8 × 167 inches (411.81 × 424.18 cm)

Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust

Object number33-17/4

On View

On view

Gallery Location

Kirkwood Hall

Collections

Architecture, Design and Decorative Arts

Terms

Gallery Label

This is the fourth in a series of eight tapestries depicting scenes from the life of Phaeton, from Greek mythology. Unable to convince his son, Phaeton, that driving the chariot of the sun is too dangerous, the sun god Helios relents and instructs the Hours, symbolized as nymphs, to prepare the horses that will carry the chariot. The powerful steeds rear and stamp their hooves in anticipation, as the Hours attempt to harness them for the perilous journey. Above, five Hours fly through the sky with hourglasses, symbolizing the passing of time.

Provenance

J. P. Morgan, Sr. (1837-1913), New York, by December 1909-1913 [1];

By descent to his son, J. P. Morgan, Jr. (1867-1943), New York, 1913-November 25, 1932 [1];

Purchased from Morgan by French and Company, New York, stock no. 17698A-H, November 25, 1932-January 30, 1933 [2];

Purchased from French and Company by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1933.

NOTES:

[1] J. P. Morgan, Sr. lent three of the eight tapestries in this series to the Wadsworth Atheneum in December 1909 and they remained there until May 1932. J. P. Morgan, Jr. lent the remaining five tapestries in the series to the Wadsworth Atheneum from March 1928 to August 1932.

[2] Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, French and Company Stock Sheets, box 17, folder 4 and Getty Photo Archive, 76.P.43, Textiles box 9. Morgan consigned five of the eight tapestries to French and Company from 1925 to 1928, but they failed to sell. They were returned to Morgan, who then lent them to the Wadsworth Atheneum (see note 1).

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