Carpet
1450-1500
Medium
Wool, Spanish knots on plain weave ground
Dimensions
523.1 × 235.8 cm (205 7/8 × 92 7/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
156574
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Even as the Christian kingdoms of Spain, led by Castile and Aragon, drove Muslimrulers from the Iberian Peninsula, the Spanish elite acquired a taste for the refined products of Muslim craftsmen, including splendid carpets. Rare surviving 15th-century examples, like this one, repeat small geometric shapes in their central field, sometimes also incorporating the coats of arms of their noble owners. Often of great size—this one is almost 18 feet in length—such carpets softened and enlivened the fl...
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...