News of the Stag from the series known as the Hunters' Chase 1600 - 1680

News of the Stag from the Hunters' Chase was made around 1625-49 at the Mortlake Tapestry Manufactory from wool and silk. Tapestries like this were luxury items, essentially pictorial textiles intended to insulate stone walls, and to impress visitors with the owner’s wealth. The weavers at Mortlake, founded in 1619, translated a painting into a woven image. It was a laborious process, involving teams of artisans working at looms for extended periods. The tapestry’s visual qualities, such as the richness of color and detail, reflect not only the original design, but also the weavers’ skill in manipulating the dyed threads. The texture of the woven surface catches the light, creating a play of shadows that enlivens the scene. The commission of tapestries like the Hunters’ Chase underscores the social context of artistic production. These elaborate works were status symbols, reflecting both the patron's taste and their capacity to commission skilled labor. By considering the materials, making, and context, we recognize the interwoven histories of art, craft, and social status.