EMBRIODERY ON CANVAS

The illustrious ancestor of the embroidery on canvas is the tapestry whose origin is unknown.

It was very probably born in the Middle East and it was introduced in Europe during the Crusades.

Since 1200 the tapestry became very important and very in demand from the European nobles.

The tapestries, generally of great dimensions, adorned the buildings walls with biblical, heroic and chivalrous scenes.

The greatest centers of production were Flemish, French (Paris and Arras) and Italian (Urbino, Florence, Rome, Milan, Ferrara, Naples).

The artists specialized in tapestry workmanship acquired such a perfect technique to create some panels similar to paintings, also helped by chemical industry development which produced colors with endless gradations; for example the chemical Chevreul, who worked in the real manufacture of Gobelins in Paris, manufactured 14.000 gradations of 72 colors.

The tapestry was performed on great looms with a very complicated procedure, with wool, silk or cotton threads which, combined among them, reproduced the desired sketch.

The tapestry producers stopped their activity at the end of XIX° century.

To get 1 mqs. of tapestry, an artist can also employ one year and, in the modern society, the workmanships which require a long time of production are not competitive because of the manpower cost.

There are still fortunately persons who are dealt with the ancient masterpieces restauration.

Today it is possible to perform tapestries, carpets, pillows, purses, couches and armchairs coverings, with a workmanship similar to the tapestry: the embroidery on canvas.

email: ilricamo@libero.it

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