Tapestries

The Strada Nuova Museums own a collection of 25 tapestries of Italian, Flemish and English manufacture. The group of Flemish tapestries includes some 16th century examples, such as the extremely interesting example featuring grotesque decoration designed by Perin del Vaga on behalf of Andrea Doria; a series of the Stories of Moses, the work of a Flemish weaver but woven in Genoa specially for the Palazzo Ducale; and a pair of panels depicting gardens and dedicated to the goddess Pomona (The Harvesting of the Gifts and Offering of Flowers and Fruit to the Goddess). Dating back to the 17th century are a tapestry depicting the Allegory of Summer, woven by Jan Il Raes after an earlier Florentine design by Francesco Salviati, and the Stories of Alexander the Great woven by Guillaume de Potter. There are also six English pieces from the Mortlake tapestry works, depicting the Months of the Year in pairs: originally woven for the Bishop of Lincoln, John Williams, Lord Keeper of King James I of England, they later belonged to a branch of the Genoese De Franchi family, whose coat of arms they bear. Lastly, the five tapestries depicting Scenes from the Passion of Christ are of Florentine grand-ducal manufacture, designed by Lodovico Cigoli and other Tuscan artists, and woven by Guasparri Papini, at the beginning of the 17th century.

Tapestry with the stories of Alexander the Great

Tapestry with the stories of Alexander the Great

Tapestry with the stories of Alexander the Great

Tapestry with the stories of Alexander the Great

Tapestry with the stories of Alexander the Great, detail 1

Tapestry with the stories of Alexander the Great, detail 1

Tapestry with the stories of Alexander the Great, detail 1

Tapestry with the stories of Alexander the Great, detail 1

Tapestry depicting Mars in grotesque

Tapestry depicting Mars in grotesque

Tapestry depicting Mars in grotesque

Tapestry depicting Mars in grotesque