Nothing very mysterious here about the missing treadle. At least checking history. Another artist -- Giovanni Battista Torriglia painted a similar spinning wheel but the woman has her hand on the wheel apparently turning it by hand. Checking the history there is also a hand crank. This link to Wheel Sleuth gives a picture at figure 3. http://www.spwhsl.com/faqlink.htm In the "weaving puzzle" picture the old woman does indeed appear to be turning the crank by hand at the center of the wheel. (Apparently it was the 17th century when the treadle was added.)
Regarding the background -- the tapestry "weaving" is the Rape of Europa. One analysis I read suggested the old woman at the wheel represents Athena and the woman in white Arachne. Another version says the woman in the back room wearing the helmet is Athena and the woman in White facing the viewer is Arachne! Both are probably right. They should get together! Especially since they are reversed in reference to the viewer. This analysis also does mention 2 levels of reality that Velazquez often worked into his paintings. (Another platonic feature !) But the one detail I found most intriguing was that Velazquez was apprenticed under Pacheco (whose daughter he married) who not only introduced him to the royal court but to "intellectuals" who met to discuss the classics. Just some further details to ponder... Just want to thank Holly again for the intrigue. I always liked Velazquez' work but never paid much attention to this one before. The 2 that had caught my attention were the Calabazas and Las Meninas But it was a long time ago -- before I took up spinning.... BTW Ron you are right. The spelling is bodegones with an "o" not "e". On the previous link the scroll is way to near the bottom. Dianne Just looking at this picture from what it immediately presents [without considering the "puzzle"] the spinning wheel is kind of missing something. Does it have a foot pedal? Or did Velazquez leave this out? There is obviously knowledge of spinning tools. There is a distaff and a niddy noddy. But why no pedal? Has anyone ever seen or heard of such spinning wheels? Without the pedal what would make the wheel turn and why would Velazquez leave it out - except for the message of something critical missing from the picture. And back to my previous analysis... Just another thought. I wish I could see the background clearly. Dianne ----- Original Message ----- From: Holly To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 7:17 PM Subject: [fibernet] "weaving" puzzle I received a 2000-piece jigsaw puzzle for Christmas (of Neuschwannstein Castle, one of my favorite places in Germany), which I finished last night during the superbowl. I enjoyed working on it (especially since it was something I could do during my *2* colds in January :) and went looking online to see what I might buy. Well, I didn't realize how expensive jigsaw puzzles are! But this one <http://www.puzzlehouse.com/theweavers.htm> was a neat scene, which I thought other fiberists would enjoy seeing. But why The Weavers? Holly [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
