August from a set of Medallion Months
ca. 1525–28
Medium
Wool, silk (20 warps per inch, 8 per cm.)
Dimensions
15 ft. 8 in. × 13 ft. 11 in. (477.5 × 424.2 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Tapestries
Culture
Netherlandish, Brussels
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Helen C. Juilliard, 1916
Accession Number
19.172.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *August from a Set of Medallion Months*, a magnificent tapestry designed by Bernard van Orley around 1525–28. Woven in the renowned workshops of Brussels, a hub of Netherlandish tapestry production during the Renaissance, this monumental piece measures nearly 16 by 14 feet, showcasing the era's mastery of wool and silk threads (20 warps per inch for exceptional detail and durability). Van Orley, a leading Antwerp painter and designer, blended Italian Renaissance influences with Northern European precision in his cartoons, which weavers brought to life with vibrant colors and intricate p...