Casgliadau Arlein

Tapestry of 'Juniper prevents Arcas from killing Callisto'. Woven at the Mortlake tapestry workshop, near London, in about 1680-1700. The tapestry was owned by the Windsor-Clive family, and was probably brought to St Fagans Castle by Robert Windsor-Clive in about 1850.

Rectangular tapestry, narrow blue border on four sides, with inner border of entwined ribbon and pole design. Mortlake mark of red cross in white shield in bottom right corner. Subject consists of the youth Arcas on right side aiming an arrow at his mother Callisto in the form of a bear (on left). Jupiter is above on a cloud with his eagle, and the foreground is filled with large trees, grass, plants and undergrowth. The background includes hillocks, trees, bushes and a distant village (in centre). An arc projects above Jupiter's head with astrological signs of gemini and cancer (indicating the transformation of mother and sons into constellations), woollen threads are dark blue, mid blue, greens and browns (blues mainly unfaded), red of Jupiter's cloak and Arcas' garments slightly faded. Highlights, figures, sky, zodiac signs and village are worked in silk. Blue silk of sky mainly faded to cream. Numerous areas of reweaving and some weak areas at top edge. Twenty warp threads to the inch, 56-60 wool weft threads per inch, approx. 50 silk weft threads per inch. Relined with linen.