Panel

Mariano Fortuny Y MadrazoWW-1906-132013

1906·Silk, plain weave with supplementary pile warps forming cut, solid velvet; printed·174.1 × 59.8 cm (68 1/2 × 23 1/2 in.)

<p>Mariano Fortuny experimented with new methods of manufacture in order to emulate the look of Renaissance velvets. By juxtaposing his printed panel with a 15th-century woven design, the similarities in their undulating floral and pomegranate motifs become apparent. Fortuny’s metallic pigments, printed onto the rich burgundy surface of the velvet, compress the pile, creating the appearance of a cut and voided velvet. With his inventive methods, Fortuny sought to renew history and rewrite luxury for the modern consumer.</p>

Catalogue

Year: 1906
Medium: Silk, plain weave with supplementary pile warps forming cut, solid velvet; printed
Dimensions: 174.1 × 59.8 cm (68 1/2 × 23 1/2 in.)
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago
Artist: Mariano Fortuny Y Madrazo

Artist

Mariano Fortuny Y Madrazo

Printmaking

Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo was a Spanish painter, printmaker, and designer whose work bridged late 19th-century academic tradition and modernist sensibility. Active across painting, etching, and decorative arts, he developed a distinctive approach to portraiture and historical subjects marked by precise draughtsmanship and a refined chromatic palette. His practice extended to textile design and theatrical set design, reflecting a comprehensive engagement with visual culture across media.

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