About This Artwork

Italy

Altar Frontal, 16th century

Silk and gilt-metal-strip-wrapped silk, 4:1 satin damask weave with supplementary brocading wefts bound by main warps in weft-float faced 1:4 's' interlacing; edged with gilt-metal-strip-wrapped silk, plain weave with supplementary patterning warps and extended ground weft uncut fringe and silk, gilt-metal-strip and gilt-metal-strip-wrapped silk, stripes of plain weave with supplementary patterning warps and of 2:2 'z' twill weave with extended ground weft, wrapped, knotted uncut fringe; lining: silk, plain weave
100.6 x 124.1 cm (39 5/8 x 88 1/4 in.)
Repeat: 56 x 28.2 cm (22 x 11 1/8 in.)
Gift of Edward Morris in memory of his wife, 1961.545

Exhibition, Publication and Ownership Histories

Exhibition History

The Art Institute of Chicago, The Elizabeth F. Cheney and Agnes Allerton Textile Galleries, "Renaissance Velvets and Silks," December 18, 2002–April 13, 2003