Bear Hunt and Falconry from a Hunts series
c. 1525
Medium
Wool and silk; slit and single and double dovetailed tapestry weave Warp: Count: 5–6 warps per cm; wool: S-ply of two Z-spun elements; diameter: 1.0 mm Weft: Count: varies from 16 to 24 wefts per cm; wool: S-ply of- two Z-spun elements; pairs of S-ply of two Z-spun elements; diameters: 0.3–1.5 mm; silk: three yarns of S-ply of two Z-twisted elements; diameters: 0.4–0.6 mm
Dimensions
259.8 × 337.5 cm (102 5/16 × 132 7/8 in.)
Classification
weaving - tapestry
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
88699
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This scene, the center section of a larger tapestry, depicts the dramatic pursuit of a bear, with falconers conducting a much tamer hunt in the background. Enthusiasm for hunting was widespread among the European aristocracy, and this popular pastime was a common subject for late medieval tapestries. Hunting was not simply a diversion for the privileged, but was also fundamental to the education of a nobleman, testing his intellectual and physical prowess. Hunts, which often took place over seve...
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...