Tapestries are once again becoming a more and more popular choice for people who want to decorate their homes and living spaces. Because of the wide variety of choices available in the market these days, the task of finding one that is suitable for your home, your taste and your style may be a bit daunting and overwhelming.
If you are choosing a wall tapestry for the very first time, it is probably best to narrow down your choices to classic wall tapestries. The classic types are those decorative wall hangings that focus on timeless, enduring and universal themes. Such themes include human nature, love, tragedy and death, to name a few. Aside from these, these decorative artworks can also represent a certain time period or an era. These include those hanging works of art inspired by the Medieval Ages, The Renaissance, The Neo-Classical Era and The Baroque time period, to name just a few.
The Medieval kind is well-known for featuring events and incidents that took place during the 18th and 19th centuries. Hunting scenarios, knights, noblemen and aristocracy, and unicorns are commonly seen. These works of art are often made from materials like wool, linen, cotton and silk. Examples of these include The Lady and the Unicorn, Awaiting the Chase, Hawking Scene, and Chevalier.
The Renaissance kind somewhat overlaps and intertwines with the Medieval kind and depicts illusions on what reality should be. It typically features Knights and noblemen, themes of Romance and Myths, as well as Verdure. It can be described as more intellectual, more scientific, and more abstract. The mast artist Raphael is closely associated with this specific type of decorative wall hanging. Examples of these include Condotierre, Promenade, The Manta, and Verdure Cascade.
Classical wall tapestries from the Neo-Classical and Baroque Era and Time Periods were made from the years 1570 to 1720. Most of these works of art were commissioned by kings, popes and members of the European nobility during the said time frame. They depict battle scenes, sieges, historical events or accounts, religious events and mythological tales, and the life and times of famous personalities (such as popes and other church leaders, conquerors like Alexander the Great, kings and world leaders). Examples of the art form from these two eras include the Manufacture Royale des Tapisseries de la Couronne (made for Louis XIV of France), A Naval Battle, The Siege of Bouchain, History of the King, and The Triumph of the Gods.
Educational as well as visually beautiful, a tapestry is woven into a fine work of art telling us a story, make believe or otherwise, it's a conversation piece that brings class and style into your home decor.
