Minneapolis Institute of Art

Altar Frontal

Spain

Date

c. 1550

Medium

Silk, metallic threads, embroidery

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The European altar frontal, or antependium, is a framed decorative hanging seen by the congregation. It developed from the Eastern church practice of screening the entire altar with curtains. The Catholic Church dispensed with the use of altar frontals after Vatican II in the 1960s. The widespread development of the silk industry in Spain in the late 15th century and early 16th century was encouraged by Ferdinand and Isabella and their successors. The Church was an important patron of silk production and the most sumptuous embroideries were made for its use. The embroidery on this piece is typical of the small patterns introduced in the mid-16th century, with interlaced stems and arabesques combined with small flowers. The center roundel depicts Christ with his chalice instituting the Eucharist. The roundel to the left presents St. Peter with his symbolic key to heaven, and on the right, St. Paul with the sword of his martyrdom.

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