Chasuble with Orphreys depicting a saint and bishop saint (front), the Virgin and Child, Saint Martin, and Saint Peter (back)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite chasuble, a liturgical vestment worn by priests during Mass, hails from Italy and dates to the mid-15th century, with its ornate orphreys—decor embroidered bands—added in the first quarter of 16th century.ed from luxurious velvet, it measures an impressive 47¼ x 27⅞ inches, reflecting the opulence of Renaissance ecclesiastical textiles. Now part of the Robert Lehman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it the era's masterful textile artistry, where velvet's rich pile and sheen symbolized divine splendor. The front features orphreys depicting a saint and a bishop saint,...