Keywords: Italian - Embroidered Altar Frontal with Standing Saints - Walters 83716 - Detail C.jpg This tapestry frontal from the fourteenth century was made in Italy but found its way to England where it was owned by John Grandisson bishop of Exeter r 1327-1369 Grandisson was an avid patron of the arts who had traveled widely in Europe and he often imported works of art from continental Europe to England His coat of arms was added to the panel in two places to the garments of Saints Stephen and Lawrence the second and fifth saints on the panel By adding his heraldry to the garments of Stephen and Lawrence both deacons Bishop Grandisson associated himself with these revered servants of the Church The cloth is made of linen cord wrapped in silver and the vines surrounding the saints were embroidered to create a raised pattern enhancing the reflective quality of the panel It shows a parade of martyrs who would have probably flanked a central image of the Virgin now lost The references to the sacrifices of these saints would have called to mind the Eucharist a rite celebrated in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice before 1369 Medieval silk and silver thread on linen Panel 1 cm 82 07 97 ; Panel 2 cm 76 04 92 08 accession number 83 716 10524 John Grandisson Bishop of Exeter 1292-1369 Bacri Antiquaire Paris date and mode of acquisition unknown Walters Art Museum 1973 by purchase Museum purchase in memory of Dorothy Miner with funds provided by the Laura F Delano Fund 1973 place of origin Florence Italy Walters Art Museum license Medieval art in the Walters Art Museum Textiles in the Walters Art Museum Italian art in the Walters Art Museum John Grandisson |