Acis and Galatea Listening to the Song of Polyphemus c. 1680 - 1684

This tapestry was created by the Manufacture Royale des Gobelins, a tapestry workshop owned by the French crown. It depicts a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses: the sea nymph Galatea and her lover Acis listening to the lovesick Cyclops Polyphemus. The Gobelins manufactory was closely associated with the French monarchy, and tapestries like this one served as symbols of royal power and prestige. They were often displayed in palaces and other important buildings, demonstrating the wealth and cultural sophistication of the court. The tapestry is a reflection of the social structures of its time. It celebrates classical mythology, reflects the tastes of the French elite, and emphasizes the importance of royal patronage in the arts. To understand more about this tapestry, we can look at historical records, workshop archives, and studies of French court culture. The meaning of art is always shaped by its social and institutional context.