NIKOLAUS GYSIS | Arachne

Private collection, Athens

Nelly Missirli, Gysis, Athens, 1996, p. 226, no. 172, catalogued & illustrated, p. 378, no. 172, listed

Executed in 1884 and relating to another drawing as well as an oil of the same subject and year, the present work depicts Arachne who, according to an ancient Greek myth, challenged the goddess Athena to a weaving contest. In case of defeat, Arachne promised she would willingly forfeit all and let Athena decide her fate. When both contestants had completed their work, Athena was unable to find a flaw in Arachne's tapestry. She was, however, enraged by the content of the work, for Arachne had chosen to illustrate the stories and corruption of the wicked Gods. Athena tore the work to pieces and struck the girl repeatedly until, overcome with despair, Arachne hanged herself from a beam. Moved by compassion, Athena brought her back to life but fated her to weave forever in the new form of a spider.