TURKISH CARPETS ON EUROPEAN PAINTINGS

Painters and Turkish Carpets

LOTTO RUGS

Depicted on some of the paintings of Venetian painter, Lorenzo Lotto, Lotto carpets are easily identified because of their red ground colour and yellow arabesque design. These attractive carpets which had it golden age from 16th to 18 centuries are believed to have come form the Usak region.

HOLBEIN CARPETS

These carpets depicted on some paintings of Germain painter Hans Holbein are decorated with very distinguished patterns. These rugs which are believed to be made in Usak Region come in two major designs. Hans Holbein the Younger's painting which is depicting French ambassadors at the court of Henry VIII has a globe, pair of compasses, a lute and a Turkish carpet. The painting which is dated to 1533 is in National Gallery in London and shows a typical example of the fact the owners of the painting were well studied, well travelled people who could also afford to buy Oriental rugs. The oriental carpets were status symbol of the ancient times. During the time of Henry VIII, we see often great personage in Europe standing on the Turkish carpets which were the ultimate symbol of wealth and status.

Holbein with big patterns

These carpets, which are divided into rectangles with octagons placed in them, are considered to have made in Canakkale and Bergama regions.

Small Holbeins

Vine leaves, flowers and interlacing patterns are seen on these so-called small Holbein Carpets.

CRIVELLI CARPETS

These rugs, depicted on some of the paintings of a Venetian painter Pablo Crivelli, draw our attention with their 16 pointed stars, which are divided, into small pieces with stylized animal figures on them. Since Crivelli used this design on his carpets dated between 1482 and 1486, we can date these rugs precisely. One of his paintings "Annunciation" is displayed at the National Gallery in London.

BELLINI RUGS

These Carpets with their very distinctive patterns such as small pediments and key holes are named after Italian painter Gentile Bellini who used this patterned carpet on his painting as early as 1507. The rugs with Bellini Key hole patterns continued to be used during the 16th and 17th centuries.

TINTORETTO CARPETS

These rugs having small central medallion, arched niches and red ground are named after a Venetian painter, Tintoretto who used them in his paintings. Tintoretto's most famous painting is displayed in Brer Museum in Milano.