Piece
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
L. 64 1/8 x W. 22 5/8 inches (162.9 x 57.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Velvets
Culture
Spanish or Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. R. K. Robertson, 1958
Accession Number
58.173.1
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk velvet panel, simply titled *Piece*, hails from the 16th century and exemplifies the opulent textile arts of Renaissance Europe. Measuring an impressive 64 1/8 by 22 5/8 inches (162.9 x 57.5 cm), it served as a fragment from luxurious furnishings, ecclesiastical vestments, or elite garments. Attributed to an unknown Spanish or Italian workshop, it now graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art's of European Sculpture and Decor Arts, thanks to a generous 1958 gift from Mrs. R. K. Robertson. In the vibrant courts of 16th-century Spain and Italy, velvet was a symbol of wealth and ...