Pair of tapestries in wool and polychrome silk, Rome, mid-18th century

Praying Virgin and Ecce Homo, Roman frames in carved and gilded wood. Measurements: width cm. 55, height cm. 72 and width cm. 55, height cm. 74 The production of tapestries in Italy in the 18th century had a different development compared to the major European centers (Gobelins, Beauvais, Aubusson and Brussels): the factories were strictly dependent on the Princes, and carried out programs linked to particular local situations. The San Michele a Ripa factory, established in Rome with headquarters in the homonymous Hospice, was strictly linked to the assignments of the pontiffs, while still allowing the tapestry makers to accept private commissions. Established by Clement XI in 1703, the factory was active until 1870; during the direction of Pietro Ferloni (from 1717 to 1770), the orientation of the activity was in three directions: the great decorative cycles, the reproduction of ancient tapestries existing in the Vatican collections and the execution of portraits and devotional paintings, including the valuable specimens here under examination, inspired by two paintings by Guido Reni in the National Gallery of Palazzo Corsini in Rome. Bibliography: A.M.De Strabel, The Roman tapestries from the 17th to the 19th century, Rome, 1989 C.Pietrangeli, The tapestry paintings of the S. Michele manufactory, in L Urbe, 1984 pp.89-94 G.Bertini, N.Forti Grazzini, The tapestries of the Farnese and the Bourbons. The collections of the 16th-18th centuries, Milan, 1998 Each object in our Gallery is sold accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by an Expert of the Court and the Chamber of Commerce Industry Crafts and Agriculture of Genoa.