Dormition of the Virgin
by ARCIMBOLDO, Giuseppe, Tapestry, wool and silk, 423 x 470 cm
The drawing for the present tapestry was done by Giuseppe Arcimboldo in 1558. Although the scene, represented in the tapestry in a conventional way, contrasts with Arcimboldo’s fantastic heads and half-figures, the bordure is quite remarkable.
The tapestry representing the death of the Virgin was woven by Giovanni Karcher, a Flemish tapestry weaver active in Italy. He organized with his brother Nicolas Karcher a large workshop for Ercole d’Este II, Duke of Ferrara and Modena. This workshop produced important series of tapestries.
Together with seven other wall hangings this tapestry belongs to a series in the Como Cathedral showing scenes from the life of the Virgin and scenes from the Old Testament.