Tapestries

The tapestry work at Bose follows a very ancient handwearing technique, the so-called "high warp" technique. The chosen draft is firstly enlarged to a full-size cartoon. This cartoon is then fixed behind the warp, which is held vertically, in order to reproduce the outlines of the drawing on the tapestry. The particular skill of the weaver consists in her ability to interpret the original draft with the special technique of the tapestry work.

Tapestries of Bose - original painting: G. Rouault (1946)
Tapestries of Bose - original painting: G. Rouault (1946)
Christ’s face

To preserve all the richness of the myriad plays of light which are the dominant artistic features of the painting, a number of different wood and silk yarns with different colours and tones in the same skein is used. Each skein contains a blend of different colours to create a vast range of colour and tone. A useful technical device is to work on the right side of the tapestry, rather than on the reverse: this means that the part being woven can be compared directly with the original.

 

“I molti fili colorati sparsi inerti
Tessuto che cresce adagio sul telaio
E il quieto tormento di riandare al disegno
Stà in uno spazio racchiuso
Più ampia bellezza.”

Domenico Ciardi, monk of Bose

 

Tapestries of Bose
Tapestries of Bose
feet washing, detail

Most of the tapestries we have realized during the years are on display in the rooms of the guest house at the Monastery of Bose.

The tapestry "Bethany" (175x115 cm) is now on display in the hall next to the reception room of the monastery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For further information contact:

Tapestry workshop of Bose
Monastery of Bose
I – 13887 Magnano BI
Tel (+39) 015.679.264
(8.00-12.00 am; 2.00-5.00 pm Mon.-Fri.)
Fax (+39) 015.679.290
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.