Jupiter and Juno: Study for the "Furti di Giove" Tapestries 1526 - 1540

Perino del Vaga rendered this study for a tapestry, "Jupiter and Juno", with pen and brown ink, heightened with white, on paper. The stark contrast of light and shadow gives the figures a sculptural quality, as if they’re carved from stone. Consider how this drawing would translate into a woven tapestry, a labor-intensive process involving skilled artisans. The cartoon would be scaled up and interpreted through dyed threads, transforming line into texture. The materiality would shift from the graphic quality of ink on paper to the tactile presence of wool and silk. Tapestries like these weren't just decorative; they were symbols of wealth and power, commissioned by elites to adorn palaces. The skilled labor involved – from the designer to the weavers – reflects a complex economy of artistic production. Thinking about this, we can see that this drawing is not just an artwork but also a design object, a crucial step in a larger manufacturing process. This helps us challenge traditional hierarchies between art and craft, revealing the social and economic context embedded within the image.