Cloth of St Gereon
Encyclopedia
The Cloth of St Gereon is a mural
tapestry
of a repeat pattern with a decorative motif of a bull being attacked by a griffin
, a fantastic creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. The Cloth of St Gereon is the oldest known European tapestry still existing, dating to the early 11th century. A number of European museums hold sections of the original cloth, which was cut into fragments in the 19th century.
or Syrian silk textiles. The motifs of the tapestry could also have derived from Sassanian textiles found in Cologne. The addition of oriental themes in the framing reveals a first attempt at variety.
The border design and background are likely the inspiration of Europe, not oriental. They are similar to 11th-century illuminated manuscript
s of Cologne and Western Europe. There are no other examples of tapestry similar to this that survive other than the oldest tapestry panel in the cathedral of Halberstadt
depicting "Abraham and the Archangel Michael", which likely was woven around 1175 A.D.
The size of the Cloth of Saint Gereon fragment at the Musée des Arts décoratifs de Lyon is 0.74 by 0.76 m (2.4 by 2.5 ft). The style of design, which is strong in oriental and Byzantine character, is often also found in woven silks of the eleventh century. The colors of the characters now are a faded green, brown, blue and red. The background may have been colored (likely brownish-blue), but this is now undeterminable as it is almost completely faded out. Tapestry historian Hunter says the design is of Byzantine origin, however the weave indicates an oriental maker.
in the early part of the 11th century. The name for the tapestry is taken from the place of origin, the St. Gereon's Basilica
in Cologne. It was hung in the church choir area.
The tapestry was cut into four fragments by the leading German art historian Dr. Franz Bock
. These were then acquired in or around 1875 by four European museums. The fragments of the Cloth of Saint Gereon are located at the Musée des Arts décoratifs de Lyon (one almost complete roundel with linking lion mask roundel), the Kunstgewerbe-Museum in Berlin
, Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg
(two roundels of the main field, a top segment cut) and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London
(bottom and right border). A large part of the original is now in the museum at Lyon, while smaller parts are at Berlin and Nuremberg. There were several exhibition tours in Paris showing the Lyon museum fragment of the Cloth of St Gereon from 1989 to 1998.
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
tapestry
Tapestry
Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven on a vertical loom, however it can also be woven on a floor loom as well. It is composed of two sets of interlaced threads, those running parallel to the length and those parallel to the width ; the warp threads are set up under tension on a...
of a repeat pattern with a decorative motif of a bull being attacked by a griffin
Griffin
The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle...
, a fantastic creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. The Cloth of St Gereon is the oldest known European tapestry still existing, dating to the early 11th century. A number of European museums hold sections of the original cloth, which was cut into fragments in the 19th century.
Description
The seven-color tapestry shows medallions with bulls and griffins in combat. It was probably adapted from ByzantineByzantine silk
Byzantine silk is silk woven in the Byzantine Empire from about the 4th century until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.The Byzantine capital of Constantinople was the first significant silk-weaving center in Europe. Silk was one of the most important commodities in the Byzantine economy, used by...
or Syrian silk textiles. The motifs of the tapestry could also have derived from Sassanian textiles found in Cologne. The addition of oriental themes in the framing reveals a first attempt at variety.
The border design and background are likely the inspiration of Europe, not oriental. They are similar to 11th-century illuminated manuscript
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
s of Cologne and Western Europe. There are no other examples of tapestry similar to this that survive other than the oldest tapestry panel in the cathedral of Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
depicting "Abraham and the Archangel Michael", which likely was woven around 1175 A.D.
The size of the Cloth of Saint Gereon fragment at the Musée des Arts décoratifs de Lyon is 0.74 by 0.76 m (2.4 by 2.5 ft). The style of design, which is strong in oriental and Byzantine character, is often also found in woven silks of the eleventh century. The colors of the characters now are a faded green, brown, blue and red. The background may have been colored (likely brownish-blue), but this is now undeterminable as it is almost completely faded out. Tapestry historian Hunter says the design is of Byzantine origin, however the weave indicates an oriental maker.
History
Scholars place the area it was made in CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
in the early part of the 11th century. The name for the tapestry is taken from the place of origin, the St. Gereon's Basilica
St. Gereon's Basilica
St. Gereon's Basilica is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany, dedicated to Saint Gereon, and designated a minor basilica on June 25, 1920. The first mention of a church at the site, dedicated to St. Gereon, appears in 612...
in Cologne. It was hung in the church choir area.
The tapestry was cut into four fragments by the leading German art historian Dr. Franz Bock
Franz Johann Joseph Bock
Franz Johann Joseph Bock was a German theologian, archaeologist, and art historian.- Early life :Bock was born in the town of Burtscheid on March 5, 1823. He was the son of Franz Joseph Bock Burtscheider , who was a lifeguard. His mother, Agnes Dotru, died when Bock was a young child...
. These were then acquired in or around 1875 by four European museums. The fragments of the Cloth of Saint Gereon are located at the Musée des Arts décoratifs de Lyon (one almost complete roundel with linking lion mask roundel), the Kunstgewerbe-Museum in Berlin
Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin
The Kunstgewerbemuseum, or Museum of Decorative Arts, is an internationally important museum of the decorative arts in Berlin, Germany, part of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin...
, Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg
Germanisches Nationalmuseum
The Germanisches Nationalmuseum is a museum in Nuremberg, Germany. Founded in 1852, houses a large collection of items relating to German culture and art extending from prehistoric times through to the present day...
(two roundels of the main field, a top segment cut) and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
(bottom and right border). A large part of the original is now in the museum at Lyon, while smaller parts are at Berlin and Nuremberg. There were several exhibition tours in Paris showing the Lyon museum fragment of the Cloth of St Gereon from 1989 to 1998.
Sources
- Anzovin, Steven, Famous First Facts 2000, item # 3084, H. W. Wilson Company, ISBN 0-8242-0958-3
- Beach, Frederick Converse, The Americana: a universal reference library, comprising the arts and sciences, literature, history, biography, geography, commerce, etc., of the world, Volume 15 Oldest Tapestries, Scientific American Compiling Dept., 1908
- Guiffrey, Jules, Histoire de la tapisserie: depuis le moyen âge jusqu'à nos jours (French), A. Mame and son, 1886
- Hamlyn, Paul, Tapestries - Mercedes Viale, Fratelli Fabbri Editori, Milan 1966
- H.M.S.O., Victoria and Albert Museum, The tapestry collection: medieval and renaissance, by George Wingfield Digby, printed by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London 1980
- Hunter, George Leland, Tapestries - their Origin, History and Renaissance, John Lane Company, 1912
- Stanford, Harold Melvin, The Standard reference work: for the home, school and library, Volume 7, Standard Education Society, 1921
- Thurstan, Violetta, A short history of decorative textiles and tapestries, Pepler & Sewell, 1934
- Viale, Mercedes, Tapestries - Cameo Series, P. Hamlyn, 1969