The role of tapestries at the Spanish court: XVIIth century

Abstract

This essay presents a new point of view about the role of tapestries at the Spanish Court in the XVIIth Century, which applies not to all, but to three of its main characteristics; three functional qualities traditionally attributed to tapestries which are not exclusive but especially significant at this stage, due to the social changes that evolved during Modern Age. In that sense, art pieces and consequently tapestries lost their traditional functionality to evolve and become a way to convey ideals, such as magnificence and social or economic status of their owners.