Chasuble Back
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Silk; metal; paper; linen
Dimensions
39 1/2 x 25 in. (100.3 x 63.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Ecclesiastical
Culture
Italian
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1803B
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Chasuble Back* 18th-century Italy is a stunning example of ecclesiastical textile art, designed as the rear panel of a chasuble—the ornate outer vestment worn by Catholic during Mass. Crafted in the opulent Baroque or Rococo style typical of the period, it features intricate floral motifs that symbolize divine beauty and renewal, rendered with lavish materials like shimmering silk, metallic threads, delicate paper elements (likely sequins or appliqués), and sturdy linen backing. Measuring 39½ x 25 inches, its generous scale allowed it to drape dramatically over the celebrant's ...