Altar frontal
PLACE/DATE
Portugal, 17th century
MATERIALS
Red silk satin; crimson silk cut velvet. Teletta appliqué embroidery and direct embroidery to silk threads in split, satin and Bologna stitch and gold and silver laid work. Base of linen appliqué embroidery (?). Coarse linen lining, fringe and galloon of gilt metallic thread
DIMENSIONS
106,5 x 177 cm
INV
MT.199
This embroidered altar frontal displays fields or panels on a red background dominated by central albarradas from which radiate vegetal stems, with foliage, flowers, pods and tendrils symmetrically arranged.
The same type of ornamentation animates the other compositional elements of the frontal, such as the vertical ornamental strips, the lower bar and the fringed frontlet, with a composition dominated by a central vase flanked by cut-out elements that lead to acanthus leaves.
The fine quality of the workmanship and the elegant decoration, accentuated by a strong chromaticism reminiscent of coffered ceiling panels, make this altar frontal an excellent example of the embroidered work produced in Portugal during the 17th century, in the same way that they draw attention to the proximity of models among the various decorative manifestations of the period.