Italian Artists
Italian Tapestries
Throughout the middle ages Arras (located in Flanders, now part of Belgium) was the heart of tapestry weaving. Wars and history often change the seat of world power or industry. It was no different in the world of tapestries. In 1477, Louis XI conquered Charles the Bold and commenced persecuting the citizens of Arras. They, along with many members of the tapestry weaving guilds scattered and settled throughout Belgium. The focus of tapestry weaving shifted to Brussels and Bruges.
Towards the end of the Middle Ages, an interesting phenomenon occurs in the world of tapestry weaving which is not found in any other art form. In Italy, in the art world, Giotto, Masaccio and others were considered to be instrumental in paving the way for the Renaissance period in painting. From the traditional stiff byzantine figures of the 14th century, these 15th century painters brought movement, perspective and the human emotional element in painting. This did not occur in tapestries. While the Italian Renaissance was exploding in Italy, the wall hanging tapestry weavers in Brussels and Bruges seemed to be insulated from it. They continued to produce tapestries in the traditional stiff gothic style well into the early 1500's. Finally, the fully mature Renaissance period, which had already been under way for 65 years in Italy, entered the tapestry world in 1515 transforming it suddenly and dramatically.
The abrupt shift from gothic to renaissance, or Italian tapestries occurred when in 1515 the Pope in Rome ordered Raphael's, ‘Acts of the Apostles' to be woven by the tapestry weavers in Brussels. Tapestry weaving was transformed forever.
Lacking native tapestry weavers, contemporary Italian artists and their patrons now turned to Brussels for fine wall hanging tapestry weaving. Cartoons (art work) were supplied by famous Italian artists such as Raphael, Titian, Veronese, Mantagna and others.
Between 1478 -1545 Brussels became the center for weaving tapestries for all of Europe, and began to produce the largest number of tapestries in history. The majority of these were Italian tapestries designated for the Vatican, crown and gentry of Italy. It can be said that during this Italian tapestry renaissance period, tapestries attained a degree of perfection which was only equaled some 150 years later in Paris @ the Gobelins.
Fine wool and silk and sometimes gold and silver wrapped thread were woven into the tapestries. Tapestry weaving guilds were established which were tight brotherhoods bound by a code of rules. By 1528 the tapestry weaver was required to weave his initials and the city mark into the edge of the tapestry. The misuse of BB – Brussels-Brabant initials could mean the loss of a right hand or death of the culprit impersonating a Brussels weaver.
As fame of Brussels tapestries spread, the demand for wall hanging tapestries overtook supply, quality descended and toward the end of the 16th century the tapestry weaving tradition had passed from Brussels to Italy. Italian tapestries had finally come home and were nationalized.
Weavers had been imported to Italy from Belgium from approximately 1534 and as tapestry weaving declined in Brussels, Ferrara and Florence slowly rose in fame and prominence for tapestry weaving over a 50 year period. The house of D'Este in Ferrara along with the ‘Arazzeria Medicea' of the Medici family in Florence produced everything that Italy could absorb in Italian tapestries. The house of Medici in Italian tapestries survived until 1737.
Besides the Vatican, Italian palazzi's and villas were decorated with Italian tapestries. Wall hanging tapestries such as ‘Apollo and Daphne' depicting myths from ancient Greece became popular. http://www.tapestries-inc.com/view_product.php?sku=2204-A-2
Views of the patrons' villa's and their estates were incorporated into tapestries and can be seen on the Heirloom European Tapestries, Inc website. (www.tapestries-inc.com). Some examples of these estate type tapestries are ‘Italian Villa Garden, Cello in Italian Garden, Tuscan Lakeside Villa' and many others. http://www.tapestries-inc.com/view_product.php?sku=8-CSG-101 http://www.tapestries-inc.com/view_product.php?sku=8-CSG-75 http://www.tapestries-inc.com/view_product.php?sku=8-CSG-118
Italian Landscape painters began producing landscape cartoons for the tapestry market. Some incorporated seasonal events that were traditional in Italy such as ‘The Wine Harvest' which were woven into tapestries. http://www.tapestries-inc.com/view_product.php?sku=895-A-1
Others produced landscape and still life type paintings into a tapestry form, such as ‘Bouquet au Violon'. http://www.tapestries-inc.com/view_product.php?sku=8112-B-1
And other artists produced Italian tapestries depicting landscapes alone, such as ‘Renaissance Verdure'. http://www.tapestries-inc.com/view_product.php?sku=8-CSG-44.1
While the peak of Italian tapestry weaving lasted for approximately 50 years, several weaving mills in Italy survived well into the mid 1700's by which time tapestries in general became less popular, overtaken by mural painters of the ‘baroque and romantic period'. Most of the focus for tapestry weaving had shifted to the French by the mid 1600's.
©Heirloom European Tapestries, Inc.
About the Author
Heirloom European Tapestries is America's largest source for tapestry wall hangings and offers a comprehensive collection of floral tapestry designs. We also have a wide range of exquisite Italian & French tapestry wall hangings.
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