The Mystical Grapes
Unknown Artist
c. 1500
Medium
Wool, silk, silver thread; tapestry weave
Dimensions
79 × 75.9 cm · framed: 102.2 × 99.7 cm
Classification
Tapestry
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
1973.77
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Henry VIII owned many little tapestries, even commissioning London-made copies after European originals owned by Katherine of Aragon. With its small scale and extraordinary details, this piece was intended to be appreciated as an aid to private devotions. Locking eyes with the infant Christ, the fruit of the Virgin’s womb (represented by the pomegranate in the glass), the user contemplated Christ’s fate to die as savior of the world. The Christ child is flanked by the Virgin Mary and Joseph, and...