Carpet
1575/1600
Medium
Wool, plain weave with supplementary wrapping wefts forming cut pile through a technique known as "Sapnish knots"
Dimensions
294.9 × 184.7 cm (116 1/8 × 72 3/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
17173
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Alcaraz was one of the most famous Spanish cities for the weaving of carpets and other fabrics until the mid-seventeenth century. An exhibition of Alcaraz carpets was held in 1649 in an effort to convince King Philip IV (1605- 1665) to excuse weavers from having to go to war. The king did not change his mind and the production of carpets in Alcaraz came to an end. This type of carpet, called a "Wreath Rug," began to be produced during the sixteenth century. Such carpets introduced Renaissance 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...