Panel
Mid–18th century
Medium
Silk, plain weave with patterning warps, brocading wefts, and self-patterned by complementary ground wefts
Dimensions
101.4 × 40 cm (54 × 21 1/4 in.); Repeat: 37 × 26.7 cm (14 1/2 × 10 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
149686
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk panel from the mid-18th showcases the pinnacle of textile artistry during the Enlightenment era, when luxurious fabrics adorned Europe's elite homes and wardrobes. Woven on a plain weave foundation, it measures an impressive 101.4 40 cm, with a repeating pattern unit of 37 × 26.7 cm, suggesting it was produced for scalable applications like garments, draperies, or upholstery. Housed in the Art Institute Chicago's Textiles Department, this anonymous masterpiece highlights the era's demand for opulent, intricately patterned silks, often traded along global routes from Asia to...
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...