The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-16
WONDERFUL TAPEsrRIEa
They Gene from the Barberini Fslaee ans
WIN Aasrn the Cathedral.

They Gene from The Barberini Ralaee ana
win Acorn the Cathedral.
One Of the most prominent features Of The
decoration Of the new Episcopal Cathedral OF
st. John tho Divine will bs the twelve tapes
tries illustrating tho life Of Christ, which Mrs..
William F. Coles has presented to the cathedral.
These tapestries were executed more than $50
years ago at the order Of q Catholic Cardinal.
francesca Barberini. nephew Of Pope Urban
VIII. They are known as the Barberini tapes.
tries. and they are regarded as rare specimens
In 1925 Pope Urban sent his nephew. Cardi-
nal Barberini to the court OF Louis XIII. on
an important mission. The artistic treasures
Of France. and particularly the production OF
tapestries OK erclsed . powerful influence on tho
Cardinal and his suite. and in 1888. three years
after his return to Rome from France. he
founded Pontlncal factory OF tapestries un-
der tho patronage OF his uncle. The great mas
ter, Giovanni Francesca Romanslli. was the
regularly commissioned painter Of cartoons for
tho establishment. and Giacopo della Riviera
was the director Of the weavers and Overs. The
factory fiourished nearly half century. Ono
Of it's principal products was Scenes in the
Life OF Christ" the tapestries which Mrs. Coles
has given to the Episcopal cathedral. Before
Mrs. Coles bought them for $4,000 they
adorned the walls OF the famous Barberlnl
palace In Rome.
Tho tapestries include eleven scenes In the
life Of Christ and map OF the Holy Land. The
average height Of the tapestries 10 fifteen and
one-haf feet Three OF them are seventeen feet
wide. and the others are from twelve to thir-
teen feet wide Tho names OF tho representa-.
tions are: Tho Annunciation. the Alteration OF
the Shepherds the Alteration OF tho MaRi. the
Flight into Egypt. the Baptism OF Christ the
TranHeuration, the Last Supper. tho Mount OF
Olives tas CrnsHxlSu the hesHT niv CIV
10 = cartouch enclosing three bees. he emblem
ndas 81 sSe bcrdss
M II sssSs5 Rs Sss 5essh
bee e the plcuehman. The esr.oneh in The 1s
r.isiSs above sss sea-. In H. middle q she
wreath supported BY two winged cherubs. one
In r. %s: s Slss q b -
winged cherubs. one OF whom. IL No;
pou,s With III. tow.pd The eenr.
ths crown q thoIns above the wreath. In N:
q Egypt. Ia the middle Of the bottom Sor.
e ssrs S MEX centre enc
female figure With two infants. to represent
Charity. In the cen,re OF both lateral borders
OF every oas IL a. cartouch. enclosinR in all.
except Nos and u. on the left hand side.
female figure holding . cross. to represent
Faith: and on the right hand side o female
figure with the head aud hands rnissd in the
attitude Of prayer: to represent Yope In Nos.
4 and IL both Of these latera cartouches are
decorated with representation OF the pic
turesoue waysids chapels SO Often seen along
the roRdways Of southern Europe. Tho inter.
slices between all these cartouches are filled
With gracefully entWined olive branches knot
ted with ribbons. Each tapestry has richly
decorated interior and exterior frame. The
interior frame encloses the subject Of each
tapestrv. and the exterior one surrounds the
borders Just described.
Mrs. Coles bought the tapestries from the
Princess Barberini. They have never been in
the hands of any European antiquity dealer.
and are now In all respects. except q few re-
pairs. exncty Is they were whan they left the
ateliers OF Romanell and Della Riviera. Con.
siderable influence had to be brought to boar
on tho Italian Government before permission
was granted to Princess BArberini to sell the
tapestrles. The officials felt that In allowing
them to 60 out OF the country. Italy would lose
one Of her rsrest works Of art. The tapestries
are now In storage In q safe deposit company
IN this city An art export who aided Mrs.
Colee In procu ing them. says OF them:
Their colors are we'll preserved and blend
with harmony. They are full OF imagery and
sent mont. and above oil. they exhibit. as ex-
amplea OF religious art. remarkable reveren-
tial faith and fervor. and rank with the most
dsvoutly impressive have ever exanoiued."