Altar Frontal: Scenes from the Childhood of Christ
Unknown Artist
c. 1500
Medium
Wool, silk, gold thread; tapestry weave
Dimensions
107.3 × 240 cm
Classification
Tapestry
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Bequest of John L. Severance
Accession Number
1942.826
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Pictorial tapestries were symbols of wealth and more highly prized than paintings. Small tapestries with Christian imagery were frequently commissioned to embellish the fronts of altars. This example displays the Massacre of the Innocents, the Flight into Egypt, and Christ among the Doctors. Tapestry weave is ideal for creating narrative scenes. The technique can be compared to painting, as each colored weft (horizontal thread) is interlaced with warps (vertical thread) where needed for the patt...