Franses discover a major lost Medici tapestry
The tapestry, depicting the Pentecost and designed by Alessandro Allori, was completed in 1596 and was part of a commission for Como Cathedral.
Instead of being installed in the Como Cathedral as planned, the tapestry was diverted to decorate the chapel of Cardinal Alessandro Ottavian de’ Medici (1535–1605), later Pope Leo XI. It was given as a gift by Ferdinando de’ Medici (1549–1609), Grand Duke of Tuscany.
The tapestry was woven in 1595-6 under the direction of Guasparri de Bartolomeo Papini (1540–1621) at the Medici workshops in Florence.
