The Spanish Royal Tapestries

This compact volume opens a vivid window onto centuries of Spanish court art, gathering the most celebrated tapestries that have long adorned the royal palaces. Richly illustrated with 277 photographs, it traces how the looms of Flanders were invited to Spain in the early 1600s, how the Bourbon monarchs encouraged local workshops, and how the collection grew through gifts, purchases and imperial commissions. The narrative balances concise historical background with clear descriptions, letting listeners picture the intricate silk, gold and silver threads that once draped the walls of Madrid, Granada and beyond.

The book highlights landmark series such as the Tunis tapestries—originally sketched on campaign and woven under Emperor Charles V’s exacting supervision—and the later Goya designs that reflected Charles III’s keen eye for decorative art. Detailed notes explain the role of key figures like Jan Vermeyen, Wilhelm Pannemaker and Jacques Van Der Goten, while contextualizing each piece within the politics and aesthetics of its era. Listeners gain a guided tour of the collection’s evolution without needing prior expertise, making the world of Spanish royal textiles both approachable and fascinating.