Chasuble

Unknown

18th century · Silk and metal thread on silk · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Extremely able needle workers created the light and delicate patterns of golden curlicues, arabesques and basketwork, intertwined with colorful florals, pink, blue and soft purple. The trompe l'œil design gracefully plays with the illusion of the thick, rigid vertical passementerie braiding- in some areas the foliage seeming to pass behind it, in others to grow in front. This chasuble was the tabard-like garment worn by a roman Catholic priest during church services as a part of a larger set of matching vestments and altar cloths.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century

Medium

Silk and metal thread on silk

Culture

Italian

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Alan L. Wolfe, 1956