Jan Malderus, Bishop of Antwerp 1785 - 1799

This tapestry depicting Jan Malderus, Bishop of Antwerp, was woven in the Imperial Russian Tapestry Manufactory in Saint Petersburg. What's fascinating is to consider the role of institutions like the Imperial Manufactory in shaping artistic production. Here, we see the Russian Empire engaging with and reinterpreting a portrait of a Flemish religious figure. The tapestry’s imagery, with its formal composition and focus on a religious leader, uses visual codes to convey authority and tradition. The choice to reproduce this particular portrait reflects the cultural and political dynamics of the time, specifically the Russian Empire's interest in aligning itself with European traditions and religious authority, while asserting its own imperial power through artistic patronage. To fully understand this tapestry, we need to consider the social conditions that allowed for the commissioning and creation of such a work, as well as the historical relationship between Russia and other European powers. It is through archival research and the study of institutional histories that we can better grasp the complex meanings embedded in this and other works of art.