Special Exhibition: Paradise Lost. The Tapestries of Salzburg
The large-format tapestries, made from wool and silk in Brussels in the 17th century, tell the story of paradise and the consequences of the fall from grace. For the first time, all six magnificent tapestries can be viewed up close, showcasing their wealth of details.
There is no entirely reliable record of when the tapestries arrived in the cathedral – it is suspected to have been under Archbishop Paris Lodron. A brief accounting note suggests rather that it was Archbishop Sigismund Schrattenbach, who donated 5,000 florins from his private treasury "for the spallier in the cathedral" in 1761.
Rarely has a single tapestry also been an exhibit of a special exhibition. Now, for the first time, a dedicated exhibition is to be held for the six pictorial tapestries, allowing for a close look at the entire ensemble. The representations of paradise and life after the fall from grace captivate with their imaginative storytelling and rich detail.
