Page:Textile fabrics; a descriptive catalogue of the collection of church-vestments, dresses, silk stuffs, needle-work and tapestries, forming that section of the Museum (IA textilefabricsde00soutrich).pdf/556

 2807.

Tapestry; subject, the visit of Alexander the Great to Diogenes in his tub. French, early 17th century.

The scene is well laid out, peopled with many figures, and its story neatly told. Above, in the usual place, is this inscription,—"Sensit Alexander testã quum vidit in illã magnum habitatorem, quanto felicior hic, qui nil cuperet (quàm) qui totum sibi posceret orbem."

3818.

Tapestry; subject, a beautifully-wooded scene with a stream running down the middle of it, and across which two men, one on each side, are talking. French, early 17th century.

On one side stands Dionysius; on the other, and holding a bunch of vegetables, which he is about to wash in the brook, is Diogenes, who was not remarkable for his personal cleanliness. Dionysius, it would seem, has been twitting him upon that subject, and gets for answer that his very presence taints with dirt Diogenes himself, and the waters in which he is about to wash his pot-herbs: "Sordet mihi Dionysius lavanti olera," as the Latin inscription reads above.

4331.

Tapestry Wall-hanging; design, a wooded scene in the background; in the foreground, Diogenes and a man. French, early 17th century.

Before a large tub, lying on its side, is stretched out Diogenes, pointing his finger to his curious dwelling, with his head looking towards a wayfarer, to whom he seems to say those words traced on the blue label at the top,—"Qui domum ambit hanc (anne?) me sepeliat." This appears to have been drawn from his lips by the man going by, who is pointing towards the gaping mouth of the tub.