Piece 1716 - 1719

Editor: So, here we have a "Piece" created sometime between 1716 and 1719 by the Albergo di Virtù workshop. It's currently housed at the Met. It looks to be a vibrant Baroque textile – maybe silk velvet? It’s giving me serious 'opulent garden' vibes, but also... wallpaper in grandma's house! What do you see in this piece? Curator: Grandma’s house, eh? I like that! There’s something comforting in repetition, isn't there? For me, looking at it now, I am reminded of how artists in the Baroque period used ornamentation and floral patterns not merely as decoration but as powerful visual metaphors. It speaks to this era's embrace of nature, or a heightened ideal of nature. The rich textures are almost a form of synesthesia – you want to *feel* the work. It's about provoking the senses, and overwhelming the viewer – what do *you* make of the strong symmetry at play? Editor: Well, the symmetry feels pretty intentional. I guess it's less chaotic than, say, flinging paint at a canvas! Makes me wonder if it was designed for a specific architectural space. Curator: Precisely. Baroque art sought to integrate itself fully into the environment, didn't it? These textiles could have adorned walls, furniture, even ceremonial robes. Imagine yourself transported, enveloped within it. It's less about looking, and more about being *inside* the art. What did we just conjure, a chapel or a boudoir? Editor: Okay, now *I’m* feeling the opulent garden vibe stronger. It's less about the flowers and more about the complete experience... Curator: Exactly. These kinds of experiences have been completely transforming my experience of the Met since coming back after a year of closure because of the Pandemic, now that you say it, a bit of chaos has helped clarify all the complex textures around us. Editor: Whoa. Next time I see a floral pattern, I will try being inside it. Thanks! Curator: You got it! And I learned, that taking another look, there is chaos there after all. Now off you go and "BE ART".