Altar Cloth
17th century
Medium
Linen, plain weave; appliquéd vertical strips of plain weave; embroidered with silk floss in long-armed cross and back stitches and appliquéd lower border of plain weave; embellished with pulled thread work (with silk floss) in two-sided Italian cross stitch and embroidered in back stitch; edged with silk, warp-faced plain weave with ground weft cut fringe
Dimensions
91.2 × 298.4 cm (35 7/8 × 117 3/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
31415
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...