Tapestry thumbnail 1
Tapestry thumbnail 2
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Tapestry

1580s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This tapestry is woven with the arms of the Contarini, one of the most distinguished ruling families in Venice for several hundred years. It exemplifies the taste of Venetians for surrounding themselves in their city homes with garden and pastoral scenes. The museum has five tapestries in the set. This one shows a woodland glade with horsemen. It is an entre-fenetre, intended to be hung between windows.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Tapestry woven in wool and silk
Brief description
Tapestry with Contarini Arms, Brussels, 1580s
Physical description
14 warp threads to inch.
J.V.H. cipher, lower right galloon.
Dimensions
  • Left edge height: 224.7cm
  • Right edge height: 222.5cm
  • Top edge length: 133.1cm
  • Bottom edge length: 134cm
  • Top edge width: 1318mm
  • Bottom edge width: 1342mm
  • Proper right length: 2258mm
  • Proper left length: 2220mm
  • Weighed on roller weight: 18.5kg
Gallery label
(5 Oct 2006 - 7 Jan 2007)
Tapestry: a woodland glade with horsemen
late 16th-early 17th century
Brussels
Wool and silk
Arms of the Contarini family of Venice in the top border. Cipher: J. V. H., lower right galloon, attributed to Joost van Herzeele or Jan van den Hecke. Brussels mark.
V&A:130A-1869

NB: this label is incorrect: date should be 'before 1589'
Object history
Set of 5 tapestries (127 to 130 & a-1869) bought from Signor Gagliardi for £20
Summary
This tapestry is woven with the arms of the Contarini, one of the most distinguished ruling families in Venice for several hundred years. It exemplifies the taste of Venetians for surrounding themselves in their city homes with garden and pastoral scenes. The museum has five tapestries in the set. This one shows a woodland glade with horsemen. It is an entre-fenetre, intended to be hung between windows.
Bibliographic references
  • Guy Delmarcel, Flemish Tapestries, London, 1999
  • Victoria and Albert Museum : The Tapestry Collection, Medieval and Renaiassance, by George Wingfield Digby, 1980
  • Ajmar-Wollheim, Marta and Flora Dennis, At Home in Renaissance Italy, London: V&A Publishing, 2006.
Collection
Accession number
130A-1869

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Record createdFebruary 16, 2006
Record URL
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