LabelThe story of the love affair between the god Mercury, son and messenger of Jupiter, and Herse, one of the three daughters of King Cecrops of Athens, is told in the Metamorphoses of Ovid; however, the particular scene depicted in The Bridal Chamber of Herse is not described in the text.

Basing his composition and the figure of Herse on Caraglio's print after Raphael's Marriage of Alexander and Roxana, the unknown tapestry designer—either an Italian follower of Raphael or a Flemish artist working in an Italianate style—created a palpable moment: Mercury steps from his sandals as he rushes forward toward his beloved; cupids remove his cloak, draw back the bed hangings, and take off a modest Herse's slipper.

The borders are thematically unrelated to the main scene. The side figures, representing the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity and the Cardinal Virtue of Justice, are copied from designs first used for one of Raphael's Acts of the Apostles tapestries; in the lower border, the figures of Love, Fortitude, Temperance, and Diligence are based on another source and are probably Flemish in origin.

Woven in Brussels in the preeminent tapestry workshop of Willem de Pannemaker (whose mark appears in the lower right corner), the tapestry demonstrates the weavers' virtuosity in depicting the details of the lush interior, replete with elaborately patterned wall hangings and bed furnishings.

Signatures, Inscriptions, and MarkingsSignature: Lower right guard: Weaver's mark of Willem de Pannemaker in gold thread
Marks: (on lower border) Brussels mark of gold thread with red shield

ProvenanceDe La Cerda family, Dukes of Medinaceli, Spain(since the 16th century, possibly); Duchess of Denia(by descent, from 1873–1903); Heirs of De La Cerda family, Dukes of Medinaceli, Spain(by descent); [ Heilbronner Gallery; sold to Jacques Seligmann]; [ Jacques Seligmann; sold to Mr. Blumenthal]; George and Florence Blumenthal(until 1941; bequeathed to MMA)