My try at Art Appreciation

As I look at this painting I'm struck by all of the red, which seems to imbue a passion into the scene, and I really liked the interpretation that the curtains set a stage. I see the woman weaving at the forefront as Arachnae. She seems to have this look of haughtyness, the position of her head and hand bely a sense of arrogance, like she is telling the woman holding the curtain of how superior her weaving is. I also like the idea that although she is wrapped in clothing she bares her leg to the thigh, which shows her indecency/lack of respect, which is how she acts towards Athena. I think the ladder in the background is really a key transition between the two scenes(front/back). It represents reaching a higher place, as Arachnae reaches above her station to flaunt her skills to Athena, the shading has the ladder beginning in light and ending in darkness, like Arachnae has reached too far and ventured into a place she should not be, because you cannot see a God's form, she has reached into a place she should not see.
For the background you really again see Arachnae's arrogance, she stands the the middle as the center of attention her hands displayed in a show of exaltance at what she has done. Ovid gives the impression that Arachnae's weave was just as good if not better than Athena's, yet her weave isn't displayed in the painting. I believe the tapestry displayed is Athena's as it has a brightness to it and contains heavenly figures in good light. I like that Athena is fully clothed for battle with her spear upraised, as if this is the moment before she curses Arachnae. I'm also interested in what the woman on the far right is thinking, because she is the only one looking to the forefront, while the others stare towards Athena and Arachnae. Maybe she is bringing the two together in the sense that she is looking at what Arachnae did to be in this situation (gossiping to the woman holding the curtain?)

 

 

Also thought these close ups might be cool to look at, didnt know there was a cat in this picture, they're not just all over the internet, but Spanish Baroque art as well!