FLEMISH MYTHOLOGICAL TAPESTRY OF DIDO AND AENAES PROBABLY BRUGES, LATE 17TH/ EARLY 18TH CENTURY depicting Dido in a gold dress and blue mantle approaching Aenaes who reclines beneath an olive tree, wearing a flowing red cloak, Dido's head turned with her gaze to the viewer, accompanied by Cupid who bears an open jewel casket, a carriage drawn by three stamping horses on the left, within flower borders with bead and reel slips marked with cartouches, a horn, and a hunter's bag (279cm high, 376cm wide) Footnote: Provenance: The Earls of Crawford and Balcarres, Balcarres House, Fife, Scotland Note: A clever and enterprising woman and founding Queen of Carthage, the enduring figure of Dido is best known from Virgil’s account in his epic poem Aeneid. Depicting the legend of Trojan hero Aenaes, the story recalls Aenaes and his crew being washed ashore and seeking refuge from Dido and her people. At the hands of Venus and Cupid, a passionate love affair soon ensues between the pair. The affair comes to an abrupt end after Aenaes is met by Mercury who reminds him of his destiny as Trojan hero and future founder of Rome; he quickly departs in the night with his men, leaving behind a heartbroken Dido. Unable to cope, Dido burns all that reminded her of Aenaes and kills herself; a tragic act which provokes eternal strife between Aenaes’ people and her own. This tapestry depicts an early scene in which Cupid, at the request of Venus, disguises as Aenaes’ younger brother to offer gifts to Dido in return for refuge and shelter. Accepting, Dido cradles Cupid who begins to weaken her sworn fidelity to her late husband, thus revealing her newfound love for Aenaes.