Panels of velvet
Unknown Artist
late 16th–early 17th century
Medium
Cut and uncut voided silk velvet
Dimensions
a) L. 55 1/4 x W. 28 1/4 inches (140.3 x 71.8 cm); b) L. 28 1/4 x W. 21 3/8 inches (71.8 x 54.3 cm); c) L. 7 x W. 3 inches (17.8 x 7.6 cm);
Classification
Textiles-Velvets
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Kate Read Blacque, in memory of her husband, Valentine Alexander Blacque, 1933
Accession Number
33.95.14a–c
Art Historical Context
These exquisite *Panels of Velvet*, crafted in Italy during the late16th to early 17th, showcase the pinnacle of Renaissance textile artistry. Comprising three fragments—a large panel measuring 55¼ × 28¼ inches, a medium one at 28¼ × 21⅜ inches, and a small of 7 × 3 inches—these works were created using cut and uncut voided velvet. This sophisticated technique involves weaving a pile of silk threads and then selectively cutting away (voiding) areas to reveal intricate patterns against a contrasting ground, blending looped (uncut) and sheared (cut) surfaces for dramatic depth and luminosity. I...