The St Michael’s Castle

Tapestries of the Imperial Tapestry Factory

All the tapestries displayed at the exhibition were manufactured at the Imperial Tapestry Factory established by the decree of Peter I in St Petersburg in 1717. Tapestry is a napless wall carpet woven by hand. The Factory’s early works are represented by Bathsheba at the Fountain (1727). It is one of the earliest extant tapestries made by Russian master Anton Afanasyev. The 1730-1740s is a period of great activity at the Factory. The Factory began to create more complicated and multi-figured works with a highly colored palette (e.g. Time Tearing the Bonds off the Faith, or Martyrdom). The second half of the 18th century was a time when the Factory continued to expand its production. Displayed at the exhibition are three ceremonial portraits of that time – Portrait of Catherine II, Portrait of Grand Duke Peter Fyodorovich (both executed after Fyodor Rokotov’s painterly originals), and Portrait of Paul I.

By the end of the 18th century the production of tapestries had been under the growing influence of a new style, Classicism. From the late 18th century till the 1840s mythological, biblical and evangelic theme-based works masterly replicated from the picturesque originals by famous Western and Russian artists were getting more popular. In 1857 the St Petersburg Tapestry Factory was closed. Nevertheless, the works created by its weavers made a significant contribution to the treasury of Russian art.