Von dem Kunstreichen weib Arachne · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Von dem Kunstreichen weib Arachne
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Lydia; Asia Minor; Colophon
Description: This engraving depicts a woman named Arachne hanging herself. There is a loom on the right side of the engraving and a net to the left of the loom. Boccaccio explains in his story that Arachne is known by ancient writers as being the one who discovered the uses of woven wool and the first to make nets. Arachne became too confident in her wool work and challenged Minerva to a weaving competition. After the goddess had won, Arachne hung herself, as depicted in the engraving. There is a spider on a spider-web on the left side of the engraving, as Arachne is said to have been transformed into a spider after this event.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18273
Language: ger
Source Name: Ein schöne Cronica oder Hystoribuch von den fürnämlichsten Weybern [A beautiful chronicle or history book of reputable women]
Parent Collection: 1543 Stayner; 1543 Stayner
Image: mta_18273_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Important Women; Famous Women; Weaving; Minerva; Goddesses; Suicide; Transformation; Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology; Arachne