Fragment

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk velvet fragment, hailing from 17th-century Italy, offers a tantalizing glimpse into the opulent textile arts of the Baroque era. Measuring just 11 x 7 7/8 inches (27.9 x 20 cm), this delicate survivor—now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts—was generously gifted by Nanette B. Kelekian in honor of Olga Raggio in 2002. Though the artist remains unknown, its classification as a velvet textile underscores Italy's mastery in luxury fabrics during a time when such materials adorned the elite's wardrobes, church vestments...