An 18th century French needlework panel

Harmony and Discord

Circa 1730-1750.

Harmony, represented here by a floridly dressed male violinist, is confronted by a female figure holding a flaming torch and a club, and treading musical instruments beneath her feet. This is Discord - the Greek Goddess Eris, the Roman Discordia - as commonly depicted in 17th and 18th century engravings, the portrayal ultimately derived from Book XI of the Iliad; as here, in lines 5 and 6 of Pope’s translation…

When baleful Eris, sent by Jove’s command,
The torch of discord blazing in her hand

The conflict is decided in favour of Harmony by the goddess Athena, in her role as patroness of the arts, who descends, seated on Pegasus. The winged horse is used here due to his own pertinence to the arts - having struck the ground on Mount Helicon with his hoof, the Hippocrene spring, sacred to the Muses, was created. In some versions of the myth, Athena later bestowed the tamed horse upon the care of the nine goddesses.

Worked in cross stitch in silk and wool with strapwork, shells and acanthus leaves framing the figures, these in petit point, and the faces with supplementary wefts to produce a still finer stitch.

Bordered with braid and mounted on a stretcher 93.6cm (36⅞”) high and 65.7cm (26¼”) wide.