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Phaethon, About to Set Forth, Gives Ear to the Parental Instructions
Phaethon, About to Set Forth, Gives Ear to the Parental Instructions

Phaethon, About to Set Forth, Gives Ear to the Parental Instructions

Artist Workshop of Jan Leyniers (Flemish, 1630 - 1686)
Date1665-1685
MediumTapestry with wool and silk
DimensionsOverall: 161 1/8 × 167 inches (409.27 × 424.18 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust
Object number33-17/5
On View
On view
Gallery Location
  • Kirkwood Hall
Collections
Gallery Label
This is the fifth in a series of eight tapestries depicting scenes from the life of Phaeton, from Greek mythology.  Preparing to embark on his journey, Phaeton stands beside his father, the sun god Helios, proudly wearing the golden halo of the sun's rays. With his left hand raised in admonition, Helios warns his son of the dangers he will encounter driving the chariot of the sun across the sky.  Anticipating the thrill of the adventurous flight and the accolades its completion will bring to him, Phaeton beams with excitement.
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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