In the early thirteenth and fourteenth century, Gothic art started to appear in woven tapesty with its unique form of religious mystery and romance. Many tapestry pieces from the fifteenth century through the sixteenth century would be considered medieval, though technically woven during the Renaissance. Early works were usually adapted from manuscripts and weavers were free to create images as they perceived them. This is in contrast to full-sized drawings, know as cartoons from the Italian word cartone, (a large piece of paper), that were used in the Renaissance and later periods as templets for the weavers to copy from accurately.
Renaissance tapestry with its pictorial art was to produce illusions of reality the way it should be. It was intellectual, more abstract and scientific. The artist Raphael and his School of Ancient Roman Art, gave rise to the Renaissance tapestry art style in the early sixteenth century.
As far back as the ancient Greeks, hand-woven tapestry art was believed to be an important means for decorating affluent homes and important buildings. Tapestry art was even thought to have covered the walls of the Parthenon.
During the Middle Ages and through the Hundred Years War, France was considered the world's most important producer of tapestry, with Paris being the tapestry capital of the western world. Unfortunately, during the Hundred Years War, with pillaging and unrest, many woven tapestry pieces were lost or burned for their precious metal content. Eventually tapestry artists, skilled dyers and tapestry craftsmen moved north towards Flanders into what today is called Holland and Belgium.
Today, most surviving pieces of original hand-woven tapestry art are from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. During that time construction consisted mainly of Picardy wool, Italian silk and gold and silver threads imported from Cyprus.
Antique tapestry pieces can range from a few thousand dollars to over $200,000 for large high quality Renaissance pieces.
References:
The Book of Tapestry History and Techniques; Verlet
Tapestries; Viale
Here are three web-sites you'll enjoy visiting. The tapestries here are breathtaking!
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