An English mythological and floral needlework carpet, Queen Anne, circa 1705

An English mythological and floral needlework carpet, Queen Anne, circa 1705
 
worked in wool and silk on a linen canvas, in gros and petit point, the carpet is centred with an irregularly outlined rectangular cartouche enclosing various charmingly naive classical figures in stylised surroundings, the cartouche is divided into three sections, with an exuberantly leaved tree with various birds extending through the middle and top section, the top section being the largest (half of the cartouche) and depicts, a large cloud with Hera, wife and sister of Zeus, and Queen of the Gods, driving a chariot pulled by peacocks, which are her attribute, the middle section, depicts the trunk of the exuberant tree extending upwards towards the sky, and Zeus is portrayed seated on a dias under a canopy with his attribute of thunder/lightening bolts, with the figure on the left of Hermes, God of science and invention, and best know as messenger of the gods, and standing on the right is Artemis, twin sister of Apollo, and goddess of the hunt, holding her bow and arrow, below this scene the lower section depicts Athena, daughter of Zeus carrying her father's shield (the aegis) and the figure of Apollo, patron and defender of herds and flocks, with his gold bow and arrow, surrounded by exotic birds and the corners with the lion and hart of England, surrounded on four sides by exuberant flowering and foliate sprigs, and each corner with a large leaf clasped flowerhead orientated from the corner into the nearest top corner of the cartouche, against a warm dark almond coloured ground
 
Approximately 256cm. long, 160cm. wide; 8ft. 4in., 5ft. 2in.