Fragment
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
a: 20 x 8 1/4 in. (50.8 x 21 cm) b: 12 1/8 x 4 in. (30.8 x 10.2 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Velvets
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in honor of Olga Raggio, 2002
Accession Number
2002.494.42a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk velvet fragment, hailing from 17th-century Italy, offers a tantalizing glimpse into the opulent world of Baroque-era textiles. Comprising two pieces—measuring 20 x 8¼ inches and 12⅛ x 4 inches—these delicate survivors showcase the masterful weaving techniques of Italian artisans. Velvet, with its plush pile and shimmering silk ground, was a hallmark of luxury, produced in renowned centers like Genoa and Venice, where looms created intricate patterns through cut-pile methods that caught light dramatically. In the 17th century, such velvets adorned ecclesiastical vestments, ...