Large Leaf Verdure with Animals and Birds
1525-1550
Medium
Wool; slit, single dovetailed, and double interlocking tapestry weave Warp: Count: 4 warps per cm; wool: S-ply of two Z-spun elements; diameters: 1.0–1.5 mm Weft: Count: varies from 15 to 36 wefts per cm; wool: S-ply of two Z-spun elements; diameters: 0.5–1.3 mm
Dimensions
599.2 × 336.4 cm (235 7/8 × 132 3/8 in.)
Classification
weaving - tapestry
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
18166
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This visually rich tapestry is filled by large leaves, vividly colored flowers, and winding shoots, a style known as large leaf verdure. Numerous real and fantastic animals—including falcons, griffins, lions, monkeys, peacocks, and pheasants—fly, hide, and perch amidst the greenery of the purely imagined plants. Only a handful of tapestries with the same animals and composition are known, though the same large leaf motif was used for the background of several tapestries depicting religious scene...
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...