The New York Academy of Medicine: Initiatives: Division of Information Management: Historical Collections: Tapesty

Historical Collections

A TAPESTRY TALE

A once-magnificent 16th century Flemish tapestry that had been hanging in the Academy Library’s Main Reading Room for nearly 80 years is currently out of storage and is scheduled for large-scale restoration work.

Manufactured in Audenarde, Belgium, the tapestry was removed in 2003 from the east wall of the Academy Library’s Main Reading Room, where it had been hanging since the building opened in 1926. Conservators from the Textile Conservation Laboratory associated with the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City worked with the Academy to remove the tapestry so that it would not be further damaged during renovations to the Library that year.

The tapestry, Wild Beast in Leaf Verdure, was already extremely dirty from decades of exposure to direct sunlight in the Library Reading Room, which has several large windows, and city soot. Conservators vacuumed the tapestry and placed it in safe storage. The building renovations resulted in improved environmental conditions in the Main Reading Room, through installation of an air conditioning system and UV light filters on the windows. Fortunately due to generous grant awards from The Coby Foundation and The National Endowment for the Arts, the Academy will be able to have the tapestry repaired so that it can again be prominently displayed on the wall of the Main Reading Room.

The tapestry measures 10’8” x 16’10 ½” and is a large leaf verdure tapestry containing a fantastic bestiary of medieval quadrupeds and birds. In the center, a rampant medieval lion is in the process of bringing down a deer, while another deer runs off and smaller animals watch or hide in the lush vegetation. Clearly influenced by the earlier millefleurs tapestry tradition, it combines medieval flora and fauna in an exuberantly untamed landscape that defies perspective. A characteristic balustrade of the type often associated with Audenarde manufacturies cuts across the profuse greenery.

Upon careful examination, conservators at the Textile Conservation Laboratory determined that the tapestry needed serious restoration work, including more extensive dry cleaning of the tapestry, removal of the old support straps and deteriorated linings, and wet cleaning. These steps would be followed by the consolidation of weak areas, including mending slits and re-weaving where necessary. After being restored to its former brilliance and strength, the tapestry will receive new straps and linings of appropriate materials. Conservators will design and implement a sturdy Velcro hanging system that will allow the tapestry to be returned to the Main Reading Room and facilitate the Academy’s ability to remove it safely for regular maintenance, ensuring its continued well-being and longevity.

Because of the magnitude and complexity of the recommended treatments, the work will probably require two years to complete. In April 2005, the Academy received a matching grant from The National Endowment for the Arts. In February 2006, The Coby Foundation awarded the Academy a generous grant. The restoration work is underway, and we look forward to the moment when the tapestry will again be enjoyed by the more than 30,000 people who visit our Romanesque revival building each year.

For more information about the tapestry restoration project please contact Linda Seligson at lseligson@nyam.org.