The Story of Diana executed from the cartoons of Toussaint Dubreuil

Chinoé and her two children

Toussaint Dubreui was born in Paris in 1561 and trained as a painter by Médéric Fréminet. He studied anatomy and was inspired by the great Italian painters such as Michelangelo and Pellegrino Tibaldi, so much so that he specialised in the representation of naked men. He died in 1602 and many of his works were destroyed.

In the foreground of the tapestry we can see a woman leaning on two children. We can think that it is Chiona, daughter of Daedalion, a great warrior famous for his victories over kings and great peoples, is a woman known for being very beautiful. At the age of 14 she had twins by Apollo and Mercury. Proud of having been loved by the gods, she compared her beauty to that of Diana to the disadvantage of the goddess. To silence her, the goddess pierced her tongue with an arrow and she died instantly, supported by her two children. After that, her father tries to commit suicide because of his sadness, but Apollo prevents him by transforming him into a falcon.

In the background on the left and on the right we can see respectively Mercury and Apollo both sleeping with Chiona in two different scenes. They are recognisable by their clothes: the sceptre and winged helmet for Mercury and the harp, white toga and quiver for Apollo.

In the sky, Diana is pointing her bow at Chioné.

Reference:

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte - Salon des Muses.

Tapestry with the same subject, part of a set of eight pieces commissioned by Cardinal Barberini, papal legate to Louis XIII, six of which were acquired in 2004 by LES AMIS DE VAUX-LE-VICOMTE to decorate the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, the two missing ones (n° 3 and 4) having not yet been found.

The Flemish Tapestry by Guy Delmarcel:

Bruges Tapestry of the 17th century, page 268 and 269, It is probably Latona and her children Apollo and Diana.

Collection mobilier National, Toussaint Dubreuil