Who painted Penelope and Her Maids Weaving?

Penelope and Her Maids Weaving was painted by Master FG in 1545.

Where can I see Penelope and Her Maids Weaving?

Penelope and Her Maids Weaving is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Penelope and Her Maids Weaving?

Penelope and Her Maids Weaving is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Penelope and Her Maids Weaving

Master FG , 1545

Penelope and Her Maids Weaving is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master FG. It dates from 1545 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1545, this copperplate engraving on laid paper is attributed to the anonymous artist known as Master FG. The print depicts the mythological scene of Penelope and her attendants at a loom, rendered with precise line work that defines both figures and interior architecture.

Subject & Meaning

The composition illustrates Penelope’s legendary strategy of weaving by day and secretly undoing her work by night to postpone the advances of her suitors. The attentive maidens, each engaged in handling thread or inspecting the fabric, emphasize the themes of fidelity, patience, and the domestic sphere in classical narrative.

Technique & Style

The image is executed through fine cross‑hatching, a method that builds tonal depth by intersecting closely spaced lines. This approach produces crisp shadows and clear delineation of the loom, walls, and floor, highlighting the artist’s control of line and his ability to convey texture without tonal washes.

History & Provenance

The print is dated to the mid‑sixteenth century, a period when reproductive engravings of literary subjects were popular among collectors. Though the identity of Master FG remains unknown, the work has survived in several European print collections, indicating its circulation and appreciation within the era’s market for mythological imagery.