Hanging With The Arms Of Francisco Valero Y Losa, 18th-19th Century

Important hanging with the arms of the Archbishop of Toledo Francisco Valero y Losa (1664-1720) embroidered on silk strips.

This hanging is decorated in its center with the arms of Francisco Valero y Losa, archbishop of Toledo from 1715 to 1720; the coat of arms of the archbishops (wide-brimmed priest's hat adorned with wings and fitted with cords with twelve azure blue tassels, the cross with double crosspieces, numerous acanthus scrolls surrounding the ball), the shield representing the his family's coat of arms (tripartite with a tree to which two canines are attached in a facing position, a castle with a single turret on fire from which emerges a hand holding a bunch of three keys, two dead men with their throats cut). The border of this shield is made up of eight keys which seem to refer to its motto “Aunque más tormentos me deis las llaves no os llevareis”. Below a text in memory of the archbishop*.

The azure blue and white scrollwork patterns are repeated on the border. The latter is contained in silver and gold braid, with geometric patterns. This embroidery, of remarkable work, combines silk and silver threads. The embroidery stitches used are varied, demonstrating a certain technicality and a clever search for material effects. The coat of arms is embroidered with polychrome silks with an encroaching past, silver dots (for the background), knots (for the coat of canines), silver thread (for the turret). The acanthus leaves and the surroundings of the archbishop's coat of arms are surrounded by vermiculated patterns of silver thread.

- The richness of this work lies in the plurality of techniques that constitute it; silk velvet for the background combined with silk and silver embroidery. Its large dimensions, its black background, and the central coat of arms give this decoration a certain monumentality. The colorful patterns provide pleasant contrasts on the plain black background, a velvet whose shades vary with the slightest movement while the embroidery elements punctuate the decor with silver highlights, the whole has a beautiful decorative effect. The silk velvet background is made up of 5 strips (53.5 cm/stretch). Fully lined, ring fastening system.

-Composite work 18th-19th century. Good state of conservation, wear and some losses should be noted (see photos)

-Dimensions: Height: 410 cm Width: 270 cm

* the text appearing on the cartel below the arms

“DOM IDDD FRANCISCUS VALERO ET LOSA, CLARUS SAPIENTIA, BENIGNITIATE CLARIOR, HUMILITATE CLARISSIMUS, PURITATE, ANGELICUS, CAELO SERAPHICUS, PRAEDICATIONE APOSTOLICUS, E*PACENSI EPISCOPATU AD TOLETANAM SEDEM PROOMOTUS, BREVI *ANNORUM CIRCULO CURSUM FELICITER CONSUMMAVIT, REPOSITAM QUE SIBI CORONAM JUSTITIAE PLACIDISSIMA MORTE, QUASIVIT, DIE XXIII. APRILIS ANNO MDCCXX. SUAE AETATIS »