Искусства и ремесла Средневековья

CHAPTER V

ТАРЕSТН.У

А STUDY of textilcs is often subdivided into tapestry, carpet-weaving, mechaпical ,veaving of fabгics of а lighter weight, and embroideгy. These headings а1·е. useful to observe in ош гesearches in the medireYal processes conпected with the loom and the needle. Tapestry, as we popularly tl1ink of it, in grcat rectaп­ gular wall-hangings with rather flo1·id figures f1·om Scrip­ tural scenes, commonly dates fгош the sixteentl1 century or lateг, so that it is онt of оuг scope to study its manu­ fасtше on an extensive scale. Внt there are eai·lier tapestries, much mo1·e restrained in design, and more interesting and freqнcntly more beautiful. Of these earlier \VOl'ks therc is less profпsion, for tl1e examples are rare and precious, апd seldom соте into the market nowadays. The latcг looms ,ve1·e of course тоге p1·01ific as the teclшical facilitics increased. But а, stнdy of tl1e craft as it began gives onc all that is necessary for а propcr appгeciation of the агt of tapestry ,veaving. Tl1c earliest Europcan wo1·k with which ,ve have to concerп oшselves is t}1e Bayeux tapestry. Althoнgh tl1is is really пeedle\\ т ork, it is нsually treated as tapest1·y, 164