The Parnassus tapestry was produced in 1772 at the royal French Gobelins factory in the Audran workshop and is based on a Raphael fresco in the Vatican.
Apollo is depicted on the summit of Mount Parnassus surrounded by the Muses and great poets among whom we can recognize Homer, Dante and Sappho.
The god is playing a musical instrument that resembles a violin. It is a viola da braccio, precursor of the modern instrument held on the player's shoulder, in contrast to the viola da gamba, another noted early member of the family that became the forerunner of the cello and was held between the knees when played.